Jalpaiguri, July 20 (Siliguri Chronicle) – A team from the health department, along with officials from the Jalpaiguri municipality, visited Ward 9 of the town on Saturday after a local resident was diagnosed with Japanese Encephalitis (JE).
So far this year, five JE cases have been reported in Jalpaiguri district, with three deaths.
“A Jalpaiguri resident is infected with JE. He is in a stable condition and returned home today from the hospital. We visited the area today and told the civic body to take all necessary steps so that the infection does not spread in the town,” said Puran Sharma, the additional director of health services.
Ahead of the visit to Ward 9, Sharma held a meeting with officials from the civic body’s health department.
“The civic authorities will take steps to remove piggeries. Those who run the piggeries will be provided with 48 hours to relocate the animals. Public announcements will be made in this regard,” said a source at the municipality.
Health department sources said the JE cases have been reported from Sadar and Rajganj blocks, as well as Jalpaiguri town.
“ASHA workers have been asked to conduct a fever survey in wards, and in case anybody has symptoms of JE, the patient should be taken to the health centre for examination of blood,” said Sharma.
Following the meeting, civic authorities announced that immediate steps would be taken to clean drains and remove stagnant water across the town.
“The state animal resource department (ARD) has been asked to monitor the piggeries. If any pig is found infected with JE, it should be killed to avoid the spread of the infection,” said a civic official.
Subodh Pal, deputy director of the ARD department, said they had issued instructions to cover piggeries with nets after learning about a JE case in the town.
“Blood samples of pigs have been collected from the area where the infection has been reported and sent the same for tests to Calcutta and Bhopal,” he said.
