European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

JAPANESE ENCEPHALITIS IN GORAKHPUR: A REVIEW

Deepa Srivastava* and K. Shukla

ABSTRACT

Japanese Encephalitis is mainly a brain fever; hence vernacularly the disease is known by the name “Mastishka Jwar” or “Dimagi Bukhar”. Although occurrence of this disease has been reported from several states of India like Bihar, Andhra Pradesh and Orissa, in recent years it has emerged as a serious health problem in rural areas of eastern Uttar Pradesh (UP). The epidemic strikes 135 districts across 17 states every year but more than 70 per cent of these cases are reported from UP. The scourge of the disease is most severe in Gorakhpur Division. In the last 33 years, 50,000 people have died in UP alone, mostly children. Thus compared to adults, children are more susceptible to the disease. Children surviving the disease often develop complex problems relating to the brain. Thus, there is a need to develop a safe, affordable and potent JE vaccine or medicine. This review addresses the current efforts in this direction and the present scenario of JE in Gorakhpur division.

Keywords: Japanese encephalitis; Mastishka Jwar; Dimagi Bukhar; flavivirus; Gorakhpur.