Delhi reports first case of Japanese Encephalitis

The national capital has reported an ‘isolated’ case of Japanese Encephalitis (JE) in a 72-year-old man from West Delhi. An official source said he was admitted to All India Institute of Medical Sciences following chest pain on Nov 3. The person tested positive for JE on Nov 6 and was discharged from the hospital later on Nov 15.  The source added that all public health measures have been instituted as per the National Centre for Vector Borne Diseases Control (NCVBDC) guidelines and there was no cause for concern.

Meanwhile, the civic body has also warned that the fatality rate of this disease is high, and those who survive may suffer from various degrees of neurological dysfunction. The MCD has directed all zonal DHOs to intensify vector control measures including larval source reduction and community-based initiatives including awareness campaigns. The case of JE has been reported from the Bindapur area under the west zone.

Speaking to the newspaper, top virologist and Fellow at University of Oxford, UK, Prof Shahid Jameel said the virus exists in a transmission cycle between mosquitoes, pigs and or water birds. The disease is predominantly found in rural and low-economic settings, where humans live in closer proximity. He said that Children living in areas endemic for the virus are at greater risk because they do not have prior immunity against this virus. However, an adult can also get infected but due to robust immune system, they can control the disease.

“Culex mosquitoes, which breed in water sources, bite the birds and acquire the virus. When these mosquitoes bite humans living nearby, the infection is transmitted. However, humans are considered dead-end hosts because the virus levels in human blood are not high enough for further transmission via mosquitoes”, said Dr Rajeev Jayadevan, Chairman, Research Cell, Kerala State IMA.

He added the prevention strategy revolves around vector control that is control of mosquitoes, and also in protecting vulnerable individuals through vaccination.

As the virus is most common among children below 15 in some pockets of Eastern UP and Bihar, Dr Amit Kumar, Paediatrician at Kiddiewink clinic, said that the case of adults getting infected of this virus has been reported earlier in some pockets of Punjan, Rajasthan and other parts of the country. However, elderly population may be associated with co-morbidities so they are on the greater risk.  He said mosquitoes can transmit the virus from animals and birds to humans but not from human to human.