NEW DELHI: Union Cabinet Secretary B.K. Chaturvedi reviewed the situation arising out of the Japanese Encephalitis epidemic in Uttar Pradesh with senior officials of the Union Health Ministry and the State Chief Secretary at a meeting on Friday. Secretaries of the Departments of Women and Child Development and Animal Husbandry were present.

Mr. Chaturvedi stressed the need for a preventive vaccination programme beginning early next year.

The Centre had established a sub-office at the Railway Hospital Complex in Gorakhpur and stocked it with essential drugs to deal with the disease. Communication facilities, such as fax and e-mail, have set up there, the meeting was told.

Steps were being taken by the Centre to increase the availability of the vaccine for the disease and the Central Research Institute at Kasauli would have adequate manpower and equipment to increase production of the vaccine.

A global search was on through the World Health Organisation (WHO) to procure about six million mouse brain vaccine required for vaccinating two million children before the next season. The National Vector Borne Disease Programme has drawn up a detailed immunisation plan before the next season.

Measures taken

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has supplied essential medicines and materials such as four lakh insecticide treated bed nets, 10 respirators, 100 fogging machines and one Elisa reader with washer to manage the encephalitis cases. Orders have placed for an additional requirement of medicines, worth Rs. 1 crore. The district administration had been advised to carry out selective aerial and other fogging methods and seek support of the civil society for quick shifting and admission of children for early treatment and recovery.

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