In what could be a matter of concern for health authorities and people of the city, four confirmed cases of Japanese encephalitis have been reported at the State-run Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health.
Japanese encephalitis is a viral fever that affects the brain and is considered extremely dangerous for children, and it also has a high “mortality and morbidity rate”, according to the institute Director R. Premalatha. She told The Hindu that all four cases were reported from the city.
Caused by the bite of Culex tritaeniorhynchus mosquito, symptoms of Japanese encephalitis include sudden onset of fever, vomiting, headache, neck stiffness, and seizures.
So far, the hospital has been getting cases of Japanese encephalitis from other parts of Karnataka. “We have seen cases from Kolar, Ballari, and Davangere. But this time the four confirmed cases are from Yelahanka, Hessarghatta and surrounding areas. Another suspected case was admitted on Friday and we have sent the samples to the National Institute of Virology for testing,” Dr. Premlatha said.
The doctor said the cases could be managed with supportive treatment. “As these cases are usually reported late, they are directly admitted to the Intensive Care Unit. As the virus attacks the brain of the child, the chances of the child suffering brain damage are high,” she said.
Advising people to take care and ensure that there is no breeding of mosquitoes, she said that the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) had been informed about the four confirmed cases of Japanese encephalitis in the city.
BBMP Deputy Chief Health Officer Manoranjan Hegde said the civic body had initiated precautionary measures in Yelahanka and Hessarghatta. “Pigs host the Japanese encephalitis virus. As there are a few piggeries and a good number of stray pigs in the area, we have asked the Animal Husbandry Department to relocate the piggeries and catch stray pigs,” he said.