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Japanese Encephalitis is a viral zoonotic disease of Public health importance, because of its epidemic potential and high case mortality rate.?
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It is a mosquito borne zoonotic disease.??
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The virus infects mainly animals through migrating birds.? Pig is the amplifier host.? Man is affected incidentally.??
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J.E. is primarily a disease of rural agricultural areas where vector mosquitoes proliferate in close association with pigs and other animal reservoirs.?
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Its epidemic have also been reported in peri-urban areas where similar conditions are also exist? Tamilnadu.
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Man to man transmission is not possible.?
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The detection of cases are difficult due to the disease apparent and in apparent nature.
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Once the human is infected with the disease it leads to death in most of the cases.?
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If survive the patient will be with severed physical and neurological complications.
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In Tamil Nadu cases are recorded for the last 20 years and the cases have occurred in a sporadic manner in certain areas.?
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The outbreaks have been limited to 2-3 months duration in a year.??
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The disease is recorded predominantly from rural areas and even there usually not more than one case is seen per village.
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In the early 80s cases were reported from Tamilnadu in the following revenue districts Tiruvannamalai, Dharmapuri, Namakkal, Trichirapalli, Dindigul, Theni, Madurai,Virdhunagar, Tirinelveli,? and Tuticorin.
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However for the past 5 years sporadic cases are reported from Villupuram, Cuddalore,and Perambalur districts only.
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The incidence during the last 5 years is given below.
INCIDENT IN THE STATE
CONTROL AND PREVENTIVE MEASURES:
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Vaccination against J.E. is being carried out in a regular basis in Tamil Nadu for the past three years.?
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Children 1-12 years of age in the selected villages in the district of Perambalur are covered.
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The criteria for selection of these areas is based on death of children due to Japanese Encephalitis occurring every year during the past 3 years.? Once a village? has been selected for immunisation? children 1-14 years are administered primary vaccination with 3 doses before 2 years of age and 3 booster doses at the age of 4, 8 and 11th years of the child.
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The coverage with Japanese Encephalitis vaccination varied from 82-94%.? So far 2,92,327 children were immunized against Japanese encephalitis vaccination.? The total amount spent towards the purchase of J.E. vaccines are given below in lakhs.
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Anticipatory spray during premonsoon has been carried out covering affected villages where J.E. cases were recorded during the last 3 years.
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In the J.E. endemic districts villages where deaths due to J.E. during any of the last 3 years have been recorded the anticipatory fogging followed by residual spray covering animal shelters as well as human dwellings are being carried out.? The amount spent towards the payment of wages for spray field workers is furnished hereunder.
DIAGNOSTIC FACILITIES:
Sera? are collected from the J.E. cases and sent to Virology department, Madurai Medical college (or) King Institute, Guindy, Chennai (or) Institute of Vector Control and Zoonoses, Hosur for Laboratory? diagnosis of J.E. case.
Vector mosquitoes collected from the field are sent to CRME, Madurai and Institute of Vector control and Zoonoses, Hosur for PCR analysis for detection of virus.
RESEARCH PROJECT:
In collaboration with the public health department, the CRME, Madurai is undertaking the impregnated curtains trials at Sirimangalam and Nallur Primary Health Centres in Cuddalaore district for control of J.E. vectors.
PROBLEM / CONSTRAINTS:
1. This disease is related to the agriculture practice of Paddy which needs water for cultivation.? The water collection in the paddy fields are the profuse breeding source for J.E.vectors.? Thus the vector control becomes very difficult.? Antilarval is not possible.
2. As a source reduction measure, weekly dry day in the paddy fileds through the Agriculture department is suggested for the control of larval breeding.
3. Pig rearing provide a livelihood for rural poor .? Pigs are the Amplifier host in the J.E. disease.? Isolation of pigs and formation of Pig shyes outside the village limits are practically difficult. Thus it is posing a socio-economic problem.
4. Periodical migration of birds which establishes local foci in the area which cannot be controlled.
Despite the above constraints and problems faced and due to various control and preventive measures undertaken by the State Public Health Department the incidence is under control and no case is recorded during this year in the state. Preventive measures are continued as cases are being recorded in neighboring states.
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