Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Aug 19: Brain fever has raised its ugly head in the district. Five cases of brain fever (japanese encephalitis) were identified during the last ten days. The health department is taking all precautions to ensure that this disease does not get a strong foothold in the district in the coming days.

One case each surfaced from Kaup Innanje, Maravanthe, and Saibarakatte in the district on Saturday. The patients, who have been admitted into ICMR in Manipal, are being closely monitored by health department. District malaria control officer, Dr H Ashok, said that all of these patients are showing marked improvement in health.

During January this year, brain fever cases had been reported from Brahmavar, Avarse and Hebri, and all the three patients got cured. The patients of this disease who hailed from Mudarangady and Santhekatte also got healed later, it is learnt.

At present, suspected brain fever cases are being referred to Manipal where samples of patients are tested at ICMR to detect whether they are suffering from brain fever. Ashok said that this disease had gained foothold in Mandya, Bellary, Koppal, Raichur and Kolar districts in 2000-01, and noted that this fever can be life threatening among children if treatment is neglected.

He informed that Karnataka accounted for 90 percent of brain fever cases in the country in 2000. This disease mainly spreads through mosquitoes which bite human beings after biting migratory white birds like herons, besides domestic pigs. The disease can also spread from wild boars, the scientists have found.

Acute headache, high fever, and vomitting are the main symptoms of the disease. The patients, instead of seeking relief through various medicines, need to get admitted into hospitals. It should be taken care to ensure that the disease does not spread through herons which visit agricultural fields after harvesting, and cleanliness of pig pens and cattle sheds is of paramount importance. Dr Ashok said that excreta of pigs should be disposed suitably. It should be ensured that pits built for them do not overflow, and the area needs to sprayed periodically against breeding of mosquitoes, he clarified.