Via Daily News: Japanese encephalitis patients reported from Ratnapura.
Eight Japanese encephalitis patients were reported from Ratnapura. Patients who were suspected of having the illness were diagnosed with viral encephalitis which is a common illness. The number of patients suspected with Japanese encephalitis was 52, a Health Ministry spokesperson said.
According to him, seven out of eight Japanese encephalitis patients were above 48 and there was a two-month-old infant.
The Health Ministry has vaccinated children below 10 against Japanese encephalitis in Ratnapura. Every year viral encephalitis hit this area and around 40 patients are reported.
Meanwhile, the Medical Research Institute (MRI) is carrying out diagnosis testing for Japanese encephalitis without interruption.
Pigs spread the Japanese encephalitis virus. Therefore, arrangements are made to vaccinate all pigs in farms against the disease.
The virus is transmitted through the Culex mosquito.
The ministry has taken steps to destroy mosquito breeding places by fogging and spraying chemicals.
This is a setback; less than a week ago, Daily News ran a story on how Japanese encephalitis had been curbed in Ratnapura.
