Nawalparasi: A 52-year-old man from Patabari of Madhyabindu municipality-1 has succumbed to Japanese Encephalitis (JE), a disease transmitted through mosquito bites. This fatality occurred during the first month of the current fiscal year, which has also seen four confirmed JE cases in the district.
According to National News Agency Nepal, Chhabilal Subedi, Information Officer at the Province Public Health Office in Nawalparasi, confirmed the fatality. Among the infected, a 44-year-old woman, an 83-year-old woman, and a 53-year-old man have successfully recovered and returned home after their battle with the disease.
In recent years, the Nawalparasi district, part of Gandaki Province, has reported frequent cases of JE. During the fiscal year 2079/80 BS, the district recorded seven infections resulting in five fatalities. This was followed by eight infections and one death in 2080/81 BS. In the last fiscal year, two cases were reported, and both patients made a full recovery.
Japanese Encephalitis is caused by the bite of an infected Culex mosquito. These mosquitoes are most active after sunset and during the night, with primary breeding grounds in stagnant water found in paddy fields. The risk of infection peaks during the months of Saun, Bhadau, and Asoj (mid-July to mid-October).
The symptoms of JE include fever, diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, exhaustion, headache, fatigue, neck stiffness, and pain. In severe cases, it can lead to epilepsy, paralysis, or loss of consciousness. Globally, over 50,000 JE cases are reported annually, with fatalities ranging between 10,000 and 15,000.