Japanese Encephalitis vaccination campaign to cover 2.25 lakh children in Bhubaneswar

BHUBANESWAR: Health and family welfare department of the state in collaboration with the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) will launch a special vaccination campaign for Japanese Encephalitis (JE) disease in the city from November 27.
The programme will cover around 2, 24, 264 beneficiaries in the city. It will continue for three weeks. Children from one year to 15 years will be vaccinated during this drive.Students of all government, private, Sishu Mandir, Madrasa, play schools, orphanages and other institutions will be covered during this campaign.
Anganwadi and ASHA workers, ANMs and health workers will carry out the campaign. Social organizations like NGOs and Lions Club will support the drive. This programme is initiated by the Centre as a major initiative to fight JE as it kills hundreds in a year in the country, said BMC official sources.
JE is a deadly disease caused by the JE virus. In case of the infection, the symptoms may include headache, vomiting, fever and seizures. This happens after five to 15 days of infections. JE virus is generally spread by mosquitoes, specifically those of the Culex type. Pigs and wild birds serve as vectors for the virus.
A coordination meeting was organised at the BMC office here on Thursday to chalk out the plan for the programme. City mayor Ananta Narayan Jena, additional district magistrate (Bhubaneswar) Manoj Mohanty and ADMO (public health) R K Jena were present in the meeting.