JE: The mosquito chased to its lair

The study, which started in June 2005 in Saharanpur, one of the worst-hit areas, says it is the mushrooming brick kilns— and not the rice fields — which are instrumental for the breeding of the virus carrier Culex mosquitoes.

Only 5 per cent of mosquito breeding occurs in rice fields and over 40 per cent in brick kilns. “The water-filled burrows, from where the clay for bricks is dug out, are the areas for mosquito breeding,” said an official.

Annual incidence of JE in the country is between 1,765 to 3,428 with a death count of 400 to 700.The study is expected to help overcome the vaccination problem.

Already, the government finds it difficult to procure 135 lakh vaccines for the first phase of vaccination in 11 affected districts.

Already, the immunisation drive had to be postponed to May 15 due to vaccine shortage. The problem may get worse in case the government decides to vaccinate all children in all the affected areas.

JE: How it occurs

The Japanese Encephalitis virus is carried by the Culex mosquito, which becomes infected by feeding on domestic pigs and wild birds infected with the virus.

Symptoms

Mild infections are manifested by fever and a headache. Severe infection is marked by headache, high fever, stiffness of neck, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, occasional convulsions (especially in infants) and spastic paralysis. The incubation period for Japanese Encephalitis is usually 5 to 15 days.

Mortality rate

Fatality in the disease ranges from 0.3 per cent to 60 per cent.