Japanese encephalitis in Banke, patient's health condition normal

Nepalgunj, September 10: Narainapur rural municipality of Banke district has recorded a patient of Japanese encephalitis. A nine-year-old girl was found detected with Japanese encephalitis, the Bheri Hospital said.

Pediatrician Dr Pratima Khadka said the girl suffering Japanese encephalitis was receiving treatment at ICU and she had normal health condition at present.

"The laboratory report confirmed that the child had got the virus," she added. 

Chief at District Health Office, Angad Bahadur Shahi, informed that it was not clear whether the girl was immunized against the Japanese encephalitis.

However, there is a mandatory provision that the children from 12 to 23 months since birth are immunized against the Japanese encephalitis.

According to medical persons, virus of Japanese encephalitis is found in pigs and birds. Once the mosquito of culex species bite human, it transmits the disease. 

The virus causes fever, nausea, shivering and headache, according to Dr Sanket Kumar Risal, information officer at Bheri Hospital.

Meanwhile, the hospital has set up a separate ward for the patients suffering diarrhea. Three girls are undergoing treatment here. Among them, one is critical, Dr Khadka added.