January 19, 2012

India to screen pigs, cattle for Japanese Encephalitis

India's Indore has begun screening of pigs and cattle for Japanese Encephalitis (JE) following letters from the state health directorate asking all government and private hospitals to keep a check on the disease and inform as soon as reported.

"We have asked all the concerned agencies to keep a vigil on the cattle, especially pig, and inform as soon as JE symptoms are suspected," nodal officer for Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), Dr GL Sodhi told DNA.

The letter has been written by the district officials on January 13 in compliance with the letter of the director, health, on January 5. "We had a communication from the union government to keep a vigil on Japanese Encephalitis. Following that we wrote to the district officials", director, health, J N Kansotiya told DNA.

On December 24, the DNA pointed out that 141 people died due to encephalitis at MY hospital in Indore but none were subjected to virology tests for JE. Later, officials served a show cause notice to the in charge of the medical records section of the MY hospital for not intimating the higher ups. On January 15, the DNA carried a report that the Delhi Municipal Corporation has written to its Indore counterpart seeking details regarding health of pigs.