Rejecting the media reports that more than 100 children have so far died of Japanese Encephalitis (JE) in Malkangiri district, the State Government on Tuesday claimed that a mere 32 children have succumbed to the vector-borne disease so far.
Health Minister Pradeep Amat told reporters here that the combined death toll due to JE and Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) in Malkangiri district till date stands at 93.
Of the 93 deaths, Amat said, 32 deaths are on account of JE and 61 are due to AES.
“Now, a total of 17 persons are admitted at the Malkangiri District Headquarters Hospital (DHH), out of which 11 are undergoing treatment in the general ward, while six are receiving treatment at in ICU,” added the Minister.
The Health Minister also clarified that the State Government is yet to receive mosquito nets from the Centre.
“15,000 Insecticide Treated Mosquito Nets (ITMN) have been provided to the people. However, the rest ITMN to be provided by the Centre is yet to reach the State,” said Amat.
In contrary to Government estimates, BJP president Basant Panda claimed that the
actual JE toll figure is not less than 150.