A nine-year-old girl from Narainapur Rural Municipality in Banke district has been diagnosed with Japanese encephalitis, confirmed by Bheri Hospital. According to Dr. Pratima Khadka, a pediatrician at the hospital, the patient is receiving intensive care treatment but is currently in stable condition.
Laboratory tests have verified the presence of the Japanese encephalitis virus in the child, though it remains unclear whether she had been vaccinated. Angad Bahadur Shahi, Chief of the District Health Office, noted that while immunization against the virus is mandatory for children between 12 and 23 months of age, there is no confirmation if the girl had received the vaccine.
Japanese encephalitis is a mosquito-borne disease, primarily transmitted through the bite of infected “Culex” mosquitoes, which acquire the virus from pigs and birds. The virus typically manifests through symptoms such as fever, nausea, shivering, and headaches, as explained by Dr. Sanket Kumar Risal, the hospital’s information officer.
In addition to the encephalitis case, Bheri Hospital has also established a separate ward for patients suffering from diarrhea. Currently, three young girls are receiving treatment there, with one patient in critical condition, according to Dr. Khadka. Holi Teli, 34 of Belhari in ward-5 of the Municipality had died two days prior due to diarrhea according to Health Office Information Officer, Naresh Shrestha.
(With inputs via RSS)