After a 13-year-old girl from Karnataka’s Vijayapura district succumbed to Japanese encephalitis, health officials in the district are on high alert and are taking the necessary measures to prevent further spread of the disease.
Dhanamma Hugar, a resident of Shikarakane Layout in Vijayapura was admitted to BLDE Hospital (also called B M Patil Medical College Hospital & Research Centre) for one week after which she succumbed to her illness.
The teenager had been brought to the hospital after she developed encephalitis, or inflammation of the brain, usually caused by an infection. She allegedly had seizures caused by the infection and was being treated at the hospital. However, since there was extensive inflammation, she could not be revived and she succumbed to her symptoms.
“The doctors at the hospital had confirmed that the girl was diagnosed with japanese encephalitis and had been treating her accordingly. Unfortunately, she couldn’t be saved,” said Dr Mahendra Kapse Vijayapura District Health Officer (DHO) to TNM.
"Cerebrospinal fluid from the patient was collected and sent to Manipal where the presence of the virus was confirmed," added Dr Mahendra.
Dr Mahendra also said that they have increased the effort to control mosquito population in the district
“We are encouraging all mosquito population control methods such as fumigation and ensuring that no drain water is clogging houses or water remains stagnant in the vicinity of houses. Furthermore, we are telling people to take preventive measures against mosquitoes, whether that means they use repellants or mosquito coils and nets. We are reminding people to take the accurate measures against mosquito bites,” adds the DHO.
This is the second death due to Japanese encephalitis to be reported from the district, with the previous death due to the disease having been recorded in 2006.
Much like dengue and malaria, Japanese encephalitis is also a disease whose primary vectors are mosquitoes. The disease is caused by a virus from the flaviviruses family. Other viruses belonging to this group include the ones which cause dengue fever, yellow fever, and West Nile fever.
It takes anywhere between 4 days and 14 days after being bitten by a mosquito carrying the virus for an individual to start showing symptoms of the disease. Fever and headache are the most commonly seen symptoms. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) children often suddenly develop a high-grade fever which may also be associated with a headache and stiff neck. It further adds that upto 30% of individuals who develop Japanese encephalitis succumb to the disease. In those who do make a recovery, oftentimes, severe and permanent neurological impairments, such as a change in behaviour, recurrent seizures or paralysis have all been noted in those who survive.
While there is no known cure for the disease, treatment is based on supportive measures which offer clinical and symptomatic relief.
There are four vaccines currently available against the virus, but these are not incorporated into the national immunisation schedule and are largely used only in endemic areas where the virus is known to manifest.