Odisha’s Malkangiri district is battling a public health nightmare as 63 people have lost their lives in just six weeks due to an outbreak of Japanese Encephalitis. Nearly 100 villages have been affected by the disease which has spread to six of the seven blocks in the district.

According to latest reports, four children suffering from the disease are being treated at the district headquarter hospital and two of them are in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

A six-member Central team led by Dr Kalpana Baruah, Joint-Director (Entomology) of the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme is assisting district health officials to tackle the disease. The members visited the district headquarters hospital here and held discussion with doctors and staff to assess the situation.

The disease originates from pigs and spreads to humans through mosquitos; hence, to stop further infections, the district administration has isolated pigs and moved them to 140 specially-prepared enclosures. Meanwhile, spraying of mosquito repellents and fogging have also been carried out in more than 100 villages.