AGARTALA, July 23 (TIWN): Japanese encephalitis, which claimed over 40 lives in Assam, has put Tripura on high alert, said official of health department. All the 8 districts in the state were on high alert and preventive measures have been taken to prevent the spread of the disease. The state is already prepared to face any outbreak. So far, no case of Japanese encephalitis has been detected said the official. However North and Dhalai districts especially health centres, have been advised to remain cautious.The official urged the residents, especially those staying near pig sheds, to be on extra vigil.

He said the viral disease is spread to human beings by bites from infected mosquitoes, which had first bitten pigs. In Assam, at least 43 encephalitis-related deaths have been reported. The total number of confirmed Japanese encephalitis cases has touched 311, while the total number of people detected with acute encephalitis syndrome is 934.

With one more deaths being reported in the past 24 hours, the malaria toll in Tripura has climbed to 124 since May 26, health officials said here on Friday. The latest victims include one minor boy, two-year-old Nayan Kanti Tripura  who died at Chawmanu hospital.  over 171,200 people have been affected by high fever in the past two months, of which the blood of 29,600 people tested positive for malaria.

Meanwhile on Saturday last the Tripura Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) filed a criminal case against three senior health officials at the state health department, blaming the institution for an increase in the number of deaths caused by malaria and other vector-borne diseases. The FIR was lodged against the three officials — SR Debbarma, the director of health services, Sandip Nameo Mahatme, the director of the National Health Mission (NHM) and M Nagaraju, the state health secretary.