SITAPUR DISTRICT has received no anti-Japanese Encephalitis vaccines, though there were 100 suspected cases here last year.
The disease had spread its tentacles in eastern Uttar Pardesh and Lakhimpur Kheri last year. Vaccines to combat this disease were supplied to the Health Department in these districts. But, Sitapur district bordering Lakhimpur has been ignored.
According to official data available with the district hospital, 100 suspected patients of JE were admitted here between August 21 and October 31, 2005. Eighteen of them died. Over 20 patients were referred to King George’s Medical University in the State capital. Twenty-four patients left the hospital illegally and went to Lucknow for treatment.
About 40 patients were discharged after a fortnight’s stay in the district hospital. Sources said private nursing homes referred many suspected cases to either the KGMU or the Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow.
The age of such patients ranged from two months to 54 years, according to hospital records. Most of them were from the bordering towns and villages of Lakhimpur, plus Sakaran, Raosa, Rampur Mathura, Mehmudabad Maigalganj, Hargaon, Laherpur, Biswan and Tambaur situated on the banks of the Sharda river in Sitapur. The river demarcates the border between the two districts.
ome patients also came from villages in Machhretta, Misrikh and Ramkot areas. These areas are on the banks of the Gomti, bifurcating Sitapur and Hardoi districts. Some cases were also reported from Sitapur city localities, which lacked proper hygiene.
{{/usCountry}}ome patients also came from villages in Machhretta, Misrikh and Ramkot areas. These areas are on the banks of the Gomti, bifurcating Sitapur and Hardoi districts. Some cases were also reported from Sitapur city localities, which lacked proper hygiene.
{{/usCountry}}It was expected that the State Health Department would launch a vaccination drive in Sitapur as well. But, no vaccines were supplied to the Health Department here. The District Health Department has not intimated the State Health Department about the situation.
Even the district administration has not launched a cleanliness drive in the affected areas. The CMO’s office said it had sent request letters to the Directorate of the State Health Department, but no JE vaccines had been received by them. However, Lakhimpur Kheri district has been supplied the vaccines.