As many as four more children died of the killer Japanese Encephalitis (JE) in Malkangifri district on Wednesday, taking the total toll in the vector-borne disease to 115 in 69 days in the district.
The day’s deceased were identified as Sidharth Beti of Kataguda, Sibani Padiami of Potrel village under Korukonda block, Sahadeb Padiami of Simagudi and Kasturi Hantala of Chitapalichari.
All of them succumbed to the disease while undergoing treatment at the ICU of the District Headquarters Hospital (DHH).
However surprisingly, Health and Family Welfare Minister Pradip Kumar Amat had on Tuesdaysaid that a mere 32 children had so far died of the JE in the tribals-dominated district. ‘He had said the combined death toll due to the JE and Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) in Malkangiri district stood at 93.
He informed that vaccination against JE would begin in the district from December.