Risk of Japanese Encephalitis Persists in Kanchanpur

Kanchanpur. Despite not having any confirmed cases of Japanese Encephalitis in the past four years, seven people with symptoms similar to the disease were found in the district last year.

According to Siddharaj Bhatt, Information Officer at the District Health Office, Kanchanpur, the office has intensified its surveillance and awareness programs at the community level.

Of the seven people who showed symptoms, some were locals and others were migrant workers who had returned from India. All of them were treated based on their symptoms.

Although no cases of Japanese Encephalitis have been reported in the district so far this year, health workers believe that the risk of the disease still persists.

Japanese Encephalitis is a serious viral disease that affects the brain and is transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito. The disease is commonly found in areas with paddy fields, stagnant water, and pig farms.

Symptoms of the disease include high fever, headache, vomiting, stiffness in the neck, and in severe cases, seizures, paralysis, and coma.

Health workers have been conducting awareness programs to educate people about the disease and its prevention. They have also been distributing pamphlets and other educational materials.

The District Health Office has also been working with local health workers and community leaders to identify areas that are at high risk of the disease and to take preventive measures.

Japanese Encephalitis was first identified in Japan in 1971, and the first case in Nepal was reported in 1978 in Rupandehi. Currently, 24 districts in Nepal are listed as high-risk areas for the disease.

Climate change, monsoon, and the increasing population of mosquitoes have contributed to the persistence of the disease in Kanchanpur.

Health workers are urging people to take preventive measures, such as using mosquito nets, wearing protective clothing, and avoiding areas with stagnant water.

They are also urging people to seek medical attention immediately if they show any symptoms of the disease.