Japanese Encephalitis in Kanchanpur district during outbreak season: A hospital based study
Abstract
An epidemiological study on Japanese encephalitis based on Mahakali Zonal Hospital of Kanchanpur district of Nepal was carried out from April 2003 to November 2003. The study was based on Mahakali Zonal Hospital of Kanchanpur district. Collection of sera samples from suspected encephalitis cases in the zonal hospital, structured questionnaire survey with laboratory findings were used for the data collection. The overall case incidence was found to be 6,61 per 100,000 populations. Children of age group 0- 14 years constituted 20% of total cases but all were not vaccinated. The overall case-fatality rate was 16%. Of the 25 JE serum samples, 12% of samples were found to be positive for anti - JE IgM antibody. Among all 25 interviewed cases, 48% of cases were aware about mosquito-borne mode of the disease. 56% did an out-door activity at dawn and dusk, 60% were mosquito-net users, 96% had paddy field around their houses and 8% reared pigs in houses by traditional methods. The recording and reporting system of Japanese encephalitis epidemic was very poor at the hospital level. Most of the respondents were unaware about the disease and its preventive measures. Strengthening hospital as well as national level laboratory facilities is necessary for forecasting Japanese encephalitis epidemics.
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