Monsoon or a Death season

Heeals Times ,10th August 2012 , New Delhi 

by Gaurav Kashyap

 For the people of Uttar Pradesh onset of monsoon brings the season of death in the form of diseases one such disease known as  Acute encephalitis syndrome AES, commonly known as Japanese Encephalitis (JE) or brain fever is haunting the lives of millions of people across the state.
We can save many lives by eradicating this disease by making our citizens aware through Campaigns on Safe Drinking Water & Sanitation.  Uttar Pradesh where most of the cases are reported are grip in this disease from very long time. Japanese Encephalitis caused by mosquito bites and AES believed to cause by Bad Sanitation and Un Safe Drinking Water. It mostly affects the children aged below 15year. 25% of the victims die and 30%to40% of the survivor suffer from physical and mental impairment. The population at risk is about 300 million. 

A case of AES is defined as a person of any age at a any time of the year with the acute onset of fever and a change in mental status (including symptoms such as confusion, disorientation, coma or inability to talk. And or new onset of seizures (excluding /simple febrile seizures). Other early clinical finding may include an increase in irritability, somnolence or abnormal behaviour greater than that seen with usual febrile illness.

A simple febrile seizure is defined as a source that occurs in a child aged 6 months to less than six year old, whose only finding is fever and a single generalised convulsion lasting less than 15 minutes and who recovers consciousness within 60 minutes of the seizure.

This disease is Endemic in 14 states. Many children are dying just because of Bad Sanitation and Un Safe Drinking Water. The Number of Dying children are increasing year by year, we can to stop this increasing number by giving them proper sanitation facilities and clean water to drink. We request to the General Public, Media, Non-Profit organisation and Government to come forward and support in providing safe drinking water and sanitation facilities.

The Epicenter of Japanese Encephalitis (JE) and Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) is Uttar Pradesh, because cases are flushing into this town through neighbouring states and Nepal.
If we do not provide safe drinking water and sanitation facilities to people, it can easily spread to other city and states. By creating Awareness on safe drinking water and sanitation practices, we can prevent it to spread to other states and cities. Otherwise it can create havoc for the society and government authorities. A greater participation from civil society, general public and government is needed to combat with this disease.

Many children are died of Brain Fever and many of them became disable, just because they are not having safe drinking water and good sanitation facilities, they still deprived from their Fundamental right to have a safe and healthy life, there is urgent need to provide them there Basic Rights. So that they can enjoy their Fundamental Rights which are endorsed in our constitution. 


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