Imphal, July 09, 2010: At least eight persons have died due to a disease suspected to be Japanese encephalitis at various hospitals in the state in the recent times while around 66 persons with the same symptoms are reported to be treated, a source from the Directorate of Health Services said today.

However, Director of Health Services, Dr Y Yaima said that the authority is yet to confirm whether the patients died at the government run hospitals were due to Japanese encephalitis, but found them to be suffering from similar symptoms of the disease.

In order to confirm the disease that claimed the lives of eight persons and illness of at least 66 persons, blood samples collected from the patients had been sent to Dibrugarh Regional Medical Research Centre on July 6, the Director said.

Besides this, Dr Dhabalo of the Directorate has left for New Delhi with the blood samples for test to be conducted at the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) today.

Results of the examinations of the blood samples will be received in two or three days, he added.

There is no specific treatment for Japanese encephalitis.

Treatments are given as per the symptoms developed in a patient.

There is no stock of Acyclovir medicine to control the disease in the government stock, and the same is also not supplied by the government.

The authority is trying to procure the medicines as soon as possible, he said.

No facility for confirmation of the disease is available in the state for the time being, but the government is trying to procure kits to test blood samples from Pune.

The authority has received the report that the kits had been sent to the state, and are likely to be received during the next few days, the Director said.

On the other hand, as per records available with the directorate, the eight persons who died of the suspected symptoms were 10-year old Lairilun of Langthabal Chingkhong village, 45-year old Shantikumar from Patsoi part-II, Hariram (65) of Mantripukhri, Ibotombi (21) of Iroishemba, Salam Naocha (13) of Loktak Project, Abem Khumanthem (7) of Wangjing, Sonika (7) of Turel Ahanbi and Bilki (5) of Keirao.

Abem died this morning while Bilki died yesterday at Shija Hospitals.

On the other hand, unofficial sources said that the death toll due to the disease suspected to be Japanese encephalitis has reached 12.Some patients suffering from the same disease are also currently under medical care at RIMS Hospital.

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