Japanese Encephalitis vaccination for Ratnapura children

Nine deaths during last two months:

A programme to vaccinate children below 10 years in the Ratnapura district against Japanese Encephalitis and several other measures have been taken by the Ratnapura District Health Office to counter the spread of the disease, Health Director Dr Athula Dangalle said.

This follows the death of nine due to Japanese Encephalitis during the last two months, he said.

Addressing a meeting held under the patronage of Sabaragamuwa Chief Minister Maheepala Herath at the Chief Ministry on February 6, Dr Dangalla said 46 persons had contracted the virus from 16 MoH divisions in the district except Imbulpe and Ayagama and nine of them had succumbed to the disease.

He said arrangements had been made to launch the vaccination programme from February 7 on the direction of the Chief Minister from several MoH divisions including Elapathe.

Arrangements have also been made to obtain 196,000 doses of the vaccine to facilitate this programme.

Pigs have been identified as the main source of this virus which is then transmitted to persons by mosquitoes who serve as the carrier.

There are nearly 2,300 pigs reared in piggeries in the district and steps would be taken to immunise the pigs to control the spread of the disease.

Dr Dangalla said 20,000 vials of the vaccine would be obtained on an urgent basis from the Epidemiology Unity as a short term measure.