CHITWAN, Sept 15: Five people have died of Japanese encephalitis in the district out of 16 reported infections, according to the Chitwan District Public Health Office. The most recent death was recorded on September 8.
Office Chief Dinesh Rupakheti said the latest victim was a 42-year-old woman from Rapti Municipality. Earlier deaths included a 70-year-old man from Bharatpur Metropolitan City (BMC)–22, an 89-year-old man from Kalika Municipality–5, a 70-year-old woman from Rapti Municipality–12, and an 81-year-old woman from BMC–12. All fatalities occurred since mid-July. Last fiscal year, one of three infected patients in the district had died.
9 people die from Japanese Encephalitis in this season
Cases of Japanese encephalitis have been detected in BMC, Kalika, Rapti, Khairahani, and Madi municipalities. The mosquito-borne disease spreads through the bite of female Culex mosquitoes.
These mosquitoes prefer to stay and bite outdoors, are most active at dawn and dusk, and transmit the virus after biting animals such as pigs and ducks. They also breed in rice paddies, Rupakheti added.
