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Kathmandu Monday January 22, 2001 Magh 09, 2057.
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Plans to control Japanese encephalitis launched
Post Report
DHANGADHI, Jan 21 - Pigs are being vaccinated here as a long-term measure to
control the Japanese encephalitis, which has been proved to be the sorrow of people in the
Terai belt for nearly two decades.
The disease has been afflicting the people as an epidemic particularly during
the summer season.
Among the Terai districts, Kailali is the hardest hit district where
thousands are affected every year and hundreds die as a result of Japanese encephalitis.
Seventy people lost their lives and nearly 800 were afflicted with this
disease during the last summer season.
The government had said it would launch publicity and preventive campaigns
against encephalitis since this winter as part of long-term programme to eradicate
Japanese encephalitis.
Health Minister Dr Ram Baran Yadav had, during his visit to Dhangadhi when
the disease was at its peak in August, said programmes would be launched in the form of a
major campaign against encephalitis since this winter. However, people of Kailali have not
seen any such major campaign being launched against encephalitis.
Experts are stressing on the preventive measures because the disease leaves
behind its bad effects on the patients’ mental and physical conditions even after
they are cured.
Therefore, the government has drawn up a plan to gradually vaccinate
different animals and fowls, because encephalitis germs are transmitted to human body by
mosquitoes from pigs, pigeons, geese and bat . The programme for this year is to vaccinate
pigs against encephalitis this year.
The government has already developed necessary strategy and work policy to
make the vaccination programme effective at a meeting attended by representatives of
Department of Livestock Development, Nepal Veterinary Association and Nepal Paraveterinary
and Livestock Association and presided over by the Director General of the Department of
Livestock Development Dr Nil Prakash Singh Karki on Saturday.
At the meeting, they formed a three-member Regional Coordination and
Monitoring Committee consisting of Director General Dr Karki, Dr Hem Chandra Karki of
Nepal Veterinary Association and representative of Nepal Paraveterinary and Livestock
Association Janak Bahadur Dhami.
The government has imported about 450,000 doses of vaccination. Since one
dose costs Rs 450, many farmers will not be able to buy the vaccination. Therefore,
farmers will be charged only Rs 15 per dose of the vaccination as management charge.
Dr Hem Chandra Karki said all the pigs in the district will be vaccinated
against encephalitis by mobilizing the technicians and other employees of the Department
of Livestock Development.
Works are already underway to supply vaccine to different village and carry
out necessary publicity works. Vaccination will begin since March this year.
The effect of the vaccination will last for six
months. Therefore, it will be started in March so that its effect will last until July and
August when the disease is at its peak, he added.
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