Source: http://www.expressindia.com/latest-n...s-year/457807/
AES cases rise, but no enterovirus this year
Maulshree-Seth
Posted: May 12, 2009 at 0154 hrs IST
Lucknow A nearly 40 per cent increase in Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) cases this year ? and none of them belonging to enterovirus category ? has brought back the question mark on the virus affecting children in eastern UP.
So far this year, 190 AES cases have been reported in eastern UP, mainly in Gorakhpur and Kushinagar, forcing the health authorities to begin a fresh investigation.
For the last two years, even as the number of Japanese Encephalitis cases dwindled, health experts were unable to identify the virus causing brain fever in thousands of children in the Gorakhpur region. Finally last year, experts from the National Institute of Virology, Pune, identified the virus as one belonging to the enterovirus group. Even though the symptoms are the same, unlike encephalitis, this virus is transmitted from person to person by the faecal-oral route and not through mosquitoes.
Thereafter, the authorities undertook measures to provide clean drinking water instead of targeting mosquitoes.
this year, of the 52 samples the NIV field laboratory in Gorakhpur had collected, not a single was of enterovirus, taking the wind out of the sails of the enterovirus theory. The doctors are back to square one, with the affected children only being provided symptomatic treatment. ?It is true that the number of AES cases has increased this year, but one can also attribute it to our better surveillance,? said Dr VS Nigam, the state Joint Director, Communicable Diseases. Asked if the virus was a new strain, Nigam said: ?It is true that NIV?s breakthrough last year holds no significance now. Thus, the identity of the virus causing AES this year remains a mystery, but experts have begun fresh investigations.?
?The mortality rate this year is around 20 per cent and in our hospital, nearly 35 deaths were reported in the first quarter of the year,? said Dr KP Kushwaha from the Paediatric Department of BRD Medical College, Gorakhpur. He said of the cases reported at the hospital, not a single JE case has been found till date.
The state government, meanwhile, is all set to begin the immunisation drive for Japanese Encephalitis in seven new districts from May 20. Nearly 93.57 lakh children would be immunised in the new districts ? Allahabad, Pratapgarh, Fatehpur, Ghazipur, Jaunpur, Kanpur and Shahjahanpur. The JE vaccine is given once in a lifetime to the children in the age group of 1 to 15 years. The vaccine has already been given to children in 27 districts.
Ayodhya protects itself from swine flu
FAIZABAD: The health department has geared up to protect the temple town of Ayodhya from swine flu, which can transmit through the foreignersvisiting the city. The department has issued notices to all hotels and rest houses to inform it immediately if any foreigner checks in. At the Indo- Nepal border, which covers five districts of eastern UP, teams of doctors have been deployed atimmigration points of Sonauli in Maharajganj , Barhni in Sidhartnagar and Rupaidiha in Bahraich, said Dr RN Mishra, chief medical officer of Gorakhpur. The government is monitoring tourist spots including Varanasi and Ayodhya, frequented by foreigners. ? ENS
AES cases rise, but no enterovirus this year
Maulshree-Seth
Posted: May 12, 2009 at 0154 hrs IST
Lucknow A nearly 40 per cent increase in Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) cases this year ? and none of them belonging to enterovirus category ? has brought back the question mark on the virus affecting children in eastern UP.
So far this year, 190 AES cases have been reported in eastern UP, mainly in Gorakhpur and Kushinagar, forcing the health authorities to begin a fresh investigation.
For the last two years, even as the number of Japanese Encephalitis cases dwindled, health experts were unable to identify the virus causing brain fever in thousands of children in the Gorakhpur region. Finally last year, experts from the National Institute of Virology, Pune, identified the virus as one belonging to the enterovirus group. Even though the symptoms are the same, unlike encephalitis, this virus is transmitted from person to person by the faecal-oral route and not through mosquitoes.
Thereafter, the authorities undertook measures to provide clean drinking water instead of targeting mosquitoes.
this year, of the 52 samples the NIV field laboratory in Gorakhpur had collected, not a single was of enterovirus, taking the wind out of the sails of the enterovirus theory. The doctors are back to square one, with the affected children only being provided symptomatic treatment. ?It is true that the number of AES cases has increased this year, but one can also attribute it to our better surveillance,? said Dr VS Nigam, the state Joint Director, Communicable Diseases. Asked if the virus was a new strain, Nigam said: ?It is true that NIV?s breakthrough last year holds no significance now. Thus, the identity of the virus causing AES this year remains a mystery, but experts have begun fresh investigations.?
?The mortality rate this year is around 20 per cent and in our hospital, nearly 35 deaths were reported in the first quarter of the year,? said Dr KP Kushwaha from the Paediatric Department of BRD Medical College, Gorakhpur. He said of the cases reported at the hospital, not a single JE case has been found till date.
The state government, meanwhile, is all set to begin the immunisation drive for Japanese Encephalitis in seven new districts from May 20. Nearly 93.57 lakh children would be immunised in the new districts ? Allahabad, Pratapgarh, Fatehpur, Ghazipur, Jaunpur, Kanpur and Shahjahanpur. The JE vaccine is given once in a lifetime to the children in the age group of 1 to 15 years. The vaccine has already been given to children in 27 districts.
Ayodhya protects itself from swine flu
FAIZABAD: The health department has geared up to protect the temple town of Ayodhya from swine flu, which can transmit through the foreignersvisiting the city. The department has issued notices to all hotels and rest houses to inform it immediately if any foreigner checks in. At the Indo- Nepal border, which covers five districts of eastern UP, teams of doctors have been deployed atimmigration points of Sonauli in Maharajganj , Barhni in Sidhartnagar and Rupaidiha in Bahraich, said Dr RN Mishra, chief medical officer of Gorakhpur. The government is monitoring tourist spots including Varanasi and Ayodhya, frequented by foreigners. ? ENS
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