Centre deploys eight life support ambulances in AES affected districts of Bihar
With the acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) death toll in Bihar standing at 138, Centre has ordered deployment of eight advanced life support ambulances (ALS) in the affected districts.
“The State government has started a social audit along with active case finding campaign
through house to house survey and moving the prospective patients to the nearest PHC for early intervention. Surprise checks are also being conducted at the PHCs by the Senior Deputy Collectors (SDC). Additionally, the early morning inspection of Anganwadi Centres is also being undertaken by SDCs and Child development Project Officers (CDPOs). They are also distributing of ORS to each house in the affected villages,” Union health minister Dr Harsh Vardhan said.
The central teams of 10 pediatricians and five paramedics sent yesterday, have been deployed in the field and have started working in coordination with the state government. Dr. Harsh Vardhan further added that sixteen senior district officials and medical
personnel have been sent to the vulnerable blocks for monitoring and early identification of cases and ensuring daily reporting.
ANMs and ASHAs have been directed to visit every house for raising awareness about AES/JE by distributing pamphlets and brochures. Awareness is also being
created through other measures such as miking and inter-personal communication. An ICMR team of experts has been deployed at the Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital
(SKMCH) hospital for making the virology lab operational at the earliest.
“The multidisciplinary team is reviewing the case records of discharged and deceased AES patients at SKMCH using a standardized tool to know the reasons for mortality. We expect to complete the activity in next two to three days. A similar exercise will be undertaken in the Kejriwal Hospital,” Dr Harsh Vardhan said.
The multi-disciplinary team will systematically collect clinical, nutritional and epidemiological information from AES patients hospitalized since 18 May 2019. Blood, urine and CSF samples will be collected from these patients to rule out infectious aetiology. The team will also conduct case-control study (by taking household/village controls) to reconfirm the role of missing meals and litchi consumption (including the quantity).
