In the last two months, at least 85 people have died of Japanese Encephalitis (JE) in Assam. According to the bulletin by the Health Department, more than 390 cases of the infection have been detected since July 2022. The bulletin also showed that 10 deaths have been reported over the last nine days, including one on Saturday. 

JE is a viral brain infection that spreads through mosquito bites. The virus that is found in pigs and birds is passed to mosquitoes when they bite infected animals. A District Rapid Response Team was formed in July after the number of infections surged in Assam over the past few months. According to the official sources, all Standard Operating Procedures and guidelines communicated by the National Health Mission, Assam, are being followed in the districts for case detection, management, and referral. The source also added that nine medical colleges and 10 district hospitals in the state, equipped with the requisite facilities, have been designated as JE treatment centers.