encephalitis-diseases-claim-60-lives-in-assam-since-january

Japanese Encephalitis (JE) and Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) have claimed 60 lives in Assam since January this year, prompting health authorities to intensify surveillance and preparedness measures ahead of the peak transmission season.

 

According to data from the National Health Mission (NHM), 15 deaths have been attributed to Japanese Encephalitis, while 45 people have died from Acute Encephalitis Syndrome across multiple districts of the state.

 

The JE fatalities were reported from Baksa, Cachar, Chirang, Kamrup Metropolitan, Tamulpur, Barpeta, Jorhat, Lakhimpur and Kamrup districts. AES-related deaths have been recorded in at least 20 districts, including Goalpara, Morigaon, Sivasagar, Udalguri, Darrang, Dhubri, Kokrajhar, Tinsukia and Charaideo.

 

Health officials said 56 confirmed cases of Japanese Encephalitis have been detected so far this season, while the number of AES cases has approached 500.

 

NHM Assam Executive Director Abhijit Sarma clarified that the two conditions are not the same.

 

“AES and JE are two different clinical entities. While JE is one of the causes of AES, not all AES cases are JE cases,” Sarma said.

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With the annual AES-JE season typically peaking between June and August, the state government has launched a series of preventive and preparedness measures.

 

Sarma said planning for the season began in February, with authorities focusing on strengthening disease surveillance, improving hospital preparedness and ensuring rapid response capabilities.

 

Measures undertaken include training nodal medical officers, deploying district-level coordinators, disseminating standard treatment protocols, strengthening referral systems and maintaining adequate stocks of essential medicines.

 

“Since February 2026, multiple initiatives have been implemented to strengthen surveillance, case management, hospital preparedness, vaccination activities and inter-departmental coordination across the state,” he said.

 

The state has also expanded vaccination coverage against Japanese Encephalitis and stepped up coordination among health and allied departments to contain the spread of the disease.

 

Officials said surveillance efforts would continue to be intensified in vulnerable districts as the monsoon season progresses.