Centre plans special pilot project to rein in AES

If the measures are successful in controlling the spread of the AES and its mortality Kushinagar,they will then be taken up in the remaining 21 districts of eastern Uttar Pradesh,which are affected by the disease.

The pilot project will be taken up under the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme and it will be in addition to the ongoing efforts for Japanese Encephalitis eradication,like vaccination.

Under the special measures,however,efforts will also be made to ensure timely vaccination,provide clean drinking water,more awareness of hygiene,treatment of stagnant water and timely fogging.

Over the last few years,the vaccination drive in eastern UP has been delayed because of differences between the state and the Central government over the efficacy of the vaccine.

On the other hand,simple measures like ensuring cleanliness,hygiene,fogging etc. were never undertaken in time. The pilot project will try to find out to what extent these measures can help in controlling the disease and mortality.

Since the project will be implemented by the state government,a team of senior officials from the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare,headed by the Director General of Health Services,will visit the state on March 12 to discuss the matter with UP Health Department officials.

“While efforts are being done to identify the virus which is killing children in eastern UP,we decided to launch a campaign of preventive measures which might help control the spread of the disease,or help curtail mortality,” said a senior Central official. “We know there are certain entero-viruses causing the disease and preventive measures could save lives.”

At the same time,the government is also planning to have a post-encephalitis management system because a large number of AES patients report prolonged ailments like memory loss,regular headaches,mood swings etc.

A team of experts from the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is already camping in eastern Uttar Pradesh to work out the details of post-encephalitis management. The team,which also has doctors from All India Institute of Medical Sciences,was in Gorakhpur on Wednesday and will be visiting Kushinagar on Thursday.

“We have been informed that the team will be coming tomorrow,but things are at a very initial stage,so we cannot say much,” said Amarnath Tiwari,Chief Medical Officer of Kushinagar.

Sources in the state government said while the Centre plans to take up the districts one by one,the state government may like to take up more than one district at a time for preventive special measures.