Effective Control and Prevention of JE and AES Outbreak in Malkangiri District

Background

Severe Japanese Encephalitis (JE) and Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) outbreaks occurred in Malkangiri district in September and November 2016, spreading to 184 villages in all 7 blocks. The district has a 49.49% literacy rate, ST population of 57%, SC population of 21% and limited human resources. Mobility support, mobile connectivity, numerous unelectrified villages, several hard-to-reach areas and high prevalence of Left Wing Extremism further made controlling the outbreak a challenging task.

Intervention

The district administration responded swiftly and strategically to control the outbreak, taking a multi-pronged approach to create synergies between all the crucial government departments, public representatives, Panchayat Raj Institution members, Civil Society Organizations, traditional healers etc. Stakeholders were brought onto a common platform and worked together as a team. Fogging was carried out in human dwellings and isolated pig pens to kill the mosquitoes. A population of 2.5 lakhs in 60,000 households in 817 villages were covered through 50 teams (100 operators). BTI (larvicidal) spraying was done in all the water-logged bodies to kill the mosquito larvae. A population of 2.29 lakh of 48,840 households in 590 villages were covered by 21 persons. Medical Relief Centers were opened in all the affected villages 24X7. Daily meetings were conducted in the affected villages by Nodal Officers, ASHA and Aaganwadi workers. Posters, leaflets, banners etc. were displayed and distributed.

Impact

The Incidence of JE/AES in 2017 is zero out of total 36 suspected blood samples tested this year. There has also been a significant reduction in malaria (34%) in the district this year. A change in health-seeking behavior, particularly of tribal populations, was noticed. Tribal people’s trust in hospitals has increased considerably and many are now shifting from traditional treatment methods to modern scientific methods, and visiting hospitals. This has also reflected in the rise of Institutional Deliveries from 65% to 80%. Further, the general sanitation of the village and health awareness of the communities has improved. People are able to identify risk factors and are now voluntarily taking up drives to eliminate mosquito breeding sources, clean their villages, cut bushes, use mosquito nets etc. They have also begun voluntarily reporting fever cases, using safer drinking water etc.

Source : Aspirational Districts for WEB