Fighting The Scourge Of Encephalitis

The dangerous enacephalitis virus that scattered in a few western districts of Nepal has claimed more than 100 lives in just three months. The virus spread by mosquitoes that breed in rainy season turns them from pests to killers. This nasty pathogen at first causes nothing more serious than flu like symptoms but eventually may cause high fever, coma and death. In some cases the disease may begin with fever, neck stiffness and headaches and may culminate in a swelling of the brain that claims most of the victims.

The maddening buzz and persistent mosquito bites in fact sound death knell to people. The sprays, screens and other repellent creams are some of the precautious against the pest. But when people do not even have these materials available or affordable for protection, they fall prey to this fatal disease. It is astonishing that the virus causing this deadly brain disease is widespread and the nature’s one of the most loathed insects is carrying it to the humans. Earlier this year alarms were sounded in Nepal particularly the worst hit disticts of Kailali, Kanchanpur and Banke.

The medical community has a reason to be skittish about the disease. The recent outbreak of encephalitis in western Nepal occurred in which more than 1000 people are estimated to have been infected and hundreds might have been killed despite official count of 100 deaths in government hospitals. But many cases are not reported to hospitals. So we do not really know the actual gravity of the problem.

The government should provide proper health care facilities to the people who are prone to the disease. Doctors and other medical personnel should be sent to affected areas on time to fight the disease. Authorities must make the people aware of the disease and give them education for precautions from encephalitis so they could protect themselves against the attack.

Gaurav Sharma
Maharagunj, Kathmandu