Assam Accounts for Nearly 62% of India’s Japanese Encephalitis Deaths

Assam recorded 609 Japanese Encephalitis (JE) deaths and 3,767 cases between 2018 and March 2026, accounting for nearly 62% of all JE deaths reported in India during the period.

The highest death toll was reported in 2019, with 161 fatalities, while 2024 saw the highest number of infections at 670 cases. In 2026, up to March, the State reported four cases and one death.

Health experts attribute Assam’s high JE burden to factors such as extensive paddy cultivation, heavy rainfall, recurring floods, and a large pig population, which create favourable conditions for mosquito breeding and virus transmission. They have called for stronger surveillance, vaccination, pig management, and early treatment measures to curb the disease.