Union Cabinet Cleared 4000 Crore Rupees Plan to Tackle Japanese Encephalitis

The Union Cabinet of India on 18 October 2012 approved a 4038-crore Rupees comprehensive multi-pronged plan for prevention and control of Japanese Encephalitis (JE) and Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) in the country.

The plan will implemented in Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Bihar and Assam within five years from 2012-13 to 2016-17.

The Plan is going to be jointly implemented by the Ministries of Health and Family Welfare, Drinking Water and Sanitation, Social Justice and Empowerment, Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation and Women and Child Development.

The proposal for Prevention and Control of Japanese Encephalitis came after the recommendation of Group of ministers (GoM) to Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
 
For making up a sum of 4000 crore rupees for Contribution, the biggest component of 2301.57 crore of Rupees is given by  Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation while the Health ministry's contribution is of 1131.49 crore of rupees.

Also, The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment will put in 9.19 crore of rupees with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation contributing 418 crore of Rupees and Ministry of Women and Child Development 177.85 crore of rupees.


About Japanese Encephalitis

Japanese Encephalitis is a disease caused by the mosquito-borne Japanese encephalitis virus. The Encephalitis disease is mainly prevalent in Southeast Asia and the Far East

Japanese encephalitis (JE) is one of the main cause of viral encephalitis in Asia, with 30,000–50,000 cases reported annually. Case-fatality rates range from 0.3% to 60% which depends on the population and on age.

Japanese Encephalitis and Acute Encephalitis Syndrome had already taken almost 1000 lives in India in 2012

Also, there is not any specific treatment for Japanese encephalitis and treatment is supportive; with assistance given for feeding, breathing or seizure control as required.