STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: At a time when all eyes are set to corona pandemic in Assam, JE (Japanese Encephalitis) and AES (Acute Encephalitis Syndrome) have claimed as many as 23 lives in the State since January this year. While JE claimed five, AES claimed 18 lives.
The district-wise breakup of JE and AES toll in the State is – five in Barpeta district; three in Nalbari district; two each in Kamrup, Kamrup (M), Udalguri, Sonitpur, Biswanath and Darrang districts and one each in Dhemaji, Dhubri and Sivasagar districts.
According to sources in the State government, as many as 174 people have been suffering from Japanese Encephalitis and AES in 27 districts across the State; of them, 38 are JE patients. Seven persons – each in Jorhat and Barpeta districts — are suffering from JE; three each in Kamrup (M) and Nagaon districts; two in Udalguri district; one each in Sonitpur, Golaghat, Goalpara districts, etc. Likewise, 136 persons have been suffering from AES, and the some of the worst-affected districts are – 22 in Dibrugarh; ten each in Barpeta, Jorhat and Sonitpur; nine in Dhemaji; eight in Kamrup (M); seven in Kamrup; six each in Biswanath and Goalpara; five each in Udalguri, Sivasagar and Cachar; etc.
The outbreak of both the vector-borne diseases – JE and AES – is severe in June, July and August in the State. Around 20-30% affected patients lose their lives in Assam annually because of JE and AES. This year, most the deaths were reported in June and July.