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What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
NEW DELHI: A 72-year-old man from Uttam Nagar, West Delhi, has been reported to have an isolated case of Japanese Encephalitis (JE), according to officials who assure residents that there is no outbreak in the city. The majority of JE cases in Delhi are from neighboring states, and public health precautions are in place as per national recommendations.
The patient was admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) on November 3, 2024, due to chest pain, with a history of diabetes and coronary artery disease. He tested positive for JE on November 6 through an immunoglobulin M (IgM) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test and was discharged on November 15 after receiving appropriate care.
According to data from the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme, 1,548 cases of JE were reported across 24 states and union territories in 2024, with Assam accounting for 925 cases. While no outbreaks have been reported in Delhi, occasional isolated cases occur in tertiary hospitals such as AIIMS, Ram Manohar Lohia, and Safdarjung, mainly from patients hailing from neighboring states.
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Japanese Encephalitis (JE) is a mosquito-borne viral infection caused by the Japanese Encephalitis Virus (JEV), primarily affecting the brain. It is most common in rural and agricultural areas of Asia and the Western Pacific. While many infections are asymptomatic or mild, severe cases can result in brain inflammation, neurological damage, or even death.
The virus is typically carried by waterfowl and amplified in pigs. Humans are generally infected through bites from mosquitoes of the Culex species that carry the virus. Children are more vulnerable to the disease, although it is not contagious from person to person.
Mild cases of JE may cause fever, while severe instances can lead to symptoms such as behavioral changes, confusion, tremors, convulsions, and coma. There is no specific treatment for JE, and prevention is crucial. The central government’s guidelines recommend two doses of the JE vaccine as part of the Universal Immunisation Programme since 2013. An adult vaccine has also been introduced in high-burden states.
