Japanese Encephalitis Outbreak Distresses Jorhat District, Locals Demand Better Health Measures

A severe outbreak of Japanese encephalitis in Assam’s Jorhat district has caused significant distress among residents. A person from the Selenghat area succumbed to the disease while receiving treatment at Jorhat Medical College and Hospital (JMCH). Additionally, a 16-year-old girl and a youth from the same village are also being treated for the disease. A man from Namsetsu and a 35-year-old woman named Jeeta Bora Gogoi from Barangiya village are in critical condition at JMCH.

Locals allege that health workers only spray mosquito repellent outside homes and make excuses to avoid spraying inside. This perceived negligence has angered the community, prompting health workers to agree to spray repellents inside homes after being confronted by residents.