Toll rises for mystery fever
Malda, W.Bengal(india):
After four days, a fresh mystery fever death was reported in Malda district hospital today, health officials said. The victim has been identified as Sanjoy Sarkar (7), a resident of Gangarampur in South Dinajpur, who died of “encephalopathy”. Till date, a total of 29 people have died owing to the mysterious viral fever since 30 August. Of them, 18 patients died of encephalopathy, health officials said. A total of 1,839 patients were admitted to the government hospital.It causes serious brain function abnormalities that was experienced by some patients with advanced liver disease. Symptoms most commonly include confusion, disorientation, insomnia, and may progress to a coma, experts said.
According to the reports of the district health authorities, 124 fresh patients suffering from fever have been admitted to the district hospital and 55 patients to block health centres in the last 24 hours.The school of tropical medicine in Kolkata today confirmed 70 more cases as anti body to dengue, the CMOH said. The health authorities today confirmed a total of 100 dengue-affected persons out of several blood samples in this district. The local private clinics have also confirmed that at least 10 percent anti body to dengue is being detected.It may be noted that the director of health service, Dr Prabhakar Chattopadhyay told the reporters here that maximum cases are likely to be ‘classical dengue’. He also disclosed that the state first detected dengue cases in Bhatpara in South Bengal. Japanese encephalitis virus is transmitted chiefly by the bites of mosquitoes in the *Culex vishnui* complex. Besides Anopheles, *Aedes aegypti* and *Aedes albopictus*, the director also alerted about the menace of Culex vishnui mosquitoes suspecting Japanese encephalitis.JE is one of several mosquito-borne viral diseases that can affect the central nervous system and cause severe complications leading to death. The disease is common in the rural areas.It may be noted that an expert from the state entomology department, Dr Paritosh Adhikari has informed the district authorities that he has found Culex mosquitoes at Prabalpally (Buraburitala) and Sunny Park under ward no. 24 in English Bazaar Municipality areas.According to his report submitted to the district health authorities, *Aedes aegypti* mosquitoes have been found in 34 places. It was also found in 26 places in Uttar Baluchar, 2 places in Kutubpur, 3 places in Sunny Park, 6 places in Prabalpally (Buraburitala) and other 18 places in English Bazaar Municipal areas.
In the rural belt 29 places have been identified as sources of such mosquitoes at Sahapur under Old Malda block, very close to the English Bazaar town. Dr Adhikari is working across the district in order to launch intensive programme for vector control including the Kalaajar-identified zone in Kandaran village, officials said.Today, following the suggestion of the director of health service, Dr Chattapadhyay, the district administration today held a meeting with the civic bodies, health officials and concerned officials. It was decided that vector control is the only imperative programme to curb the so-called dengue menace and viral diseases like encephalopathy or Japanese Encephalitis.The administration has decided to bring guppy, gambusia and such species of fish to kill larvae of all kinds of mosquitoes and assigned the fishery department.
The fish would be released in the stagnant water bodies, drains, and other places. Civic bodies will also distribute medicine at minimum costs with a view to use it on the mosquito nets through water, which will also kill mosquitoes. Several NGOs have been assigned to launch mosquito-killing programme in the rural belts.
Sept. 20, 2005
Statesman News Service
http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=10&theme=&usrsess=1&id=90599
Malda, W.Bengal(india):
After four days, a fresh mystery fever death was reported in Malda district hospital today, health officials said. The victim has been identified as Sanjoy Sarkar (7), a resident of Gangarampur in South Dinajpur, who died of “encephalopathy”. Till date, a total of 29 people have died owing to the mysterious viral fever since 30 August. Of them, 18 patients died of encephalopathy, health officials said. A total of 1,839 patients were admitted to the government hospital.It causes serious brain function abnormalities that was experienced by some patients with advanced liver disease. Symptoms most commonly include confusion, disorientation, insomnia, and may progress to a coma, experts said.
According to the reports of the district health authorities, 124 fresh patients suffering from fever have been admitted to the district hospital and 55 patients to block health centres in the last 24 hours.The school of tropical medicine in Kolkata today confirmed 70 more cases as anti body to dengue, the CMOH said. The health authorities today confirmed a total of 100 dengue-affected persons out of several blood samples in this district. The local private clinics have also confirmed that at least 10 percent anti body to dengue is being detected.It may be noted that the director of health service, Dr Prabhakar Chattopadhyay told the reporters here that maximum cases are likely to be ‘classical dengue’. He also disclosed that the state first detected dengue cases in Bhatpara in South Bengal. Japanese encephalitis virus is transmitted chiefly by the bites of mosquitoes in the *Culex vishnui* complex. Besides Anopheles, *Aedes aegypti* and *Aedes albopictus*, the director also alerted about the menace of Culex vishnui mosquitoes suspecting Japanese encephalitis.JE is one of several mosquito-borne viral diseases that can affect the central nervous system and cause severe complications leading to death. The disease is common in the rural areas.It may be noted that an expert from the state entomology department, Dr Paritosh Adhikari has informed the district authorities that he has found Culex mosquitoes at Prabalpally (Buraburitala) and Sunny Park under ward no. 24 in English Bazaar Municipality areas.According to his report submitted to the district health authorities, *Aedes aegypti* mosquitoes have been found in 34 places. It was also found in 26 places in Uttar Baluchar, 2 places in Kutubpur, 3 places in Sunny Park, 6 places in Prabalpally (Buraburitala) and other 18 places in English Bazaar Municipal areas.
In the rural belt 29 places have been identified as sources of such mosquitoes at Sahapur under Old Malda block, very close to the English Bazaar town. Dr Adhikari is working across the district in order to launch intensive programme for vector control including the Kalaajar-identified zone in Kandaran village, officials said.Today, following the suggestion of the director of health service, Dr Chattapadhyay, the district administration today held a meeting with the civic bodies, health officials and concerned officials. It was decided that vector control is the only imperative programme to curb the so-called dengue menace and viral diseases like encephalopathy or Japanese Encephalitis.The administration has decided to bring guppy, gambusia and such species of fish to kill larvae of all kinds of mosquitoes and assigned the fishery department.
The fish would be released in the stagnant water bodies, drains, and other places. Civic bodies will also distribute medicine at minimum costs with a view to use it on the mosquito nets through water, which will also kill mosquitoes. Several NGOs have been assigned to launch mosquito-killing programme in the rural belts.
Sept. 20, 2005
Statesman News Service
http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=10&theme=&usrsess=1&id=90599
