AGARTALA, June 20 (TIWN): After the Malaria outbreak, the terror of Japanese Encephalitis is on a rise and is largely spreading in the state. So far 18 people are reported with the JE virus in their body and have claimed 3 lives so far.

JE virus is maintained in a cycle involving mosquitoes and vertebrate hosts, mainly pigs and wading birds. Humans can be infected when bitten by an infected mosquito. Japanese encephalitis, a mosquito-borne viral infection, is the most common cause of viral encephalitis in eastern Uttar Pradesh (U.P.), affecting 171 districts and claiming hundreds of lives every year. Mortality is higher among children and thousands of them in this area have been rendered disabled by it.

Japanese encephalitis is a type of viral infection that is spread through mosquito bites. It's most common in rural areas.

The virus is found in pigs and birds, and is passed to mosquitoes that bite the infected animals. It’s more common in rural areas where there are pig farms and rice fields. It cannot be spread from person to person.

Although the disease is curable through timely vaccination programme, but the vaccination of Japanese Encephalitis appears to be a nightmare in the state rather than a life saving drug. The reports of the death as well as falling sick after taking the vaccine have become a daily routine recently. So far JE has claimed 3 lives and it is expected that if the poor vaccination program continues in the state the death toll may rise further in the coming days.

The threats of Japanese encephalitis outbreak still persist with large number of passengers coming through rail, road and airways. Most of passengers who come to Tripura through rail, road or air, come from West Bengal or Assam. And both states are seriously infected with Japanese encephalitis. So there is a threat.

The Department of Health and Family Welfare, however, issued standard warning over possibilities of the disease outbreak. Director of Family Welfare and Preventive Medicine said that the Agartala Government Medical College is now operating a full-fledged test since 2013. The test is mandatory to diagnose Japanese encephalitis infection. The National Institute of Virology sent few rapid test kits on to accelerate the testing process as well but everything is going in vain with the rise JE virus in the state.

Inept administrators and incompetent officials of the Health and Family Welfare department of Tripura are only responsible for the hit of such debacles in the state simultaneously.