Absence of preventive measures and affordable and accessible health care leads to nearly 500 encephalitis deaths in Uttar Pradesh.
IT is a strange paradox. In a country that aspires to be a superpower and boasts of rapid economic growth, 488 children died in a State, Uttar Pradesh, from encephalitis alone this year. It is nothing less than a national shame and tragedy. In six districts of Bihar, close to 200 children died this year. These are deaths that occurred in hospitals and hence were reported; the actual toll could be far higher.

Visit of doctors from national institutions to worst-affected regions recommended

Even as New Delhi grappled with the increasing incidence of Japanese encephalitis — a disease reported for the first time — the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights has recommended that Japanese encephalitis vaccination be included in the national immunisation programme and an eradication programme launched nationwide against Japanese encephalitis and acute encephalitis syndrome.

Criticised for not doing enough to tackle the spread of Japanese Encephalitis (JE) and Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) in parts of eastern Uttar Pradesh, where hundreds of children die or are disabled every year, the Centre has now approved the setting up of dedicated wards in seven hospitals in the districts worst affected by the deadly infection.