Udupi: As many as five cases of brain fever (Japanese Encephalitis) have been reported in Udupi district in the last one week.
Ramachandra Bairy, District Health and Family Welfare Officer, told The Hindu on Tuesday that a case each of Japanese Encephalitis had been reported from Marvanthe, Yedthady, Kallianpur-Santhekatte, Innanje and Pilar in the district.
Of the five cases, three patients had recovered and been discharged and two of them are undergoing treatment at the Kasturba Hospital in Manipal.
A total of eight cases of Japanese Encephalitis had been reported in Udupi district since January, this year.
The Health and Family Welfare Department had launched health awareness campaigns in the affected gram panchayats and the surrounding areas on the steps to be taken to prevent the spread of the disease.
Advice
Dr. Bairy said that people should maintain cleanliness in their houses and neighbourhood. Importance should be given to check the breeding of mosquitoes. Water should not be allowed to remain stagnant in houses or the neighbourhood.
People should use mosquito nets or mosquito repellents. They should wear full clothing.
The department had instructed panchayat development officers to be careful while giving permission to pig-rearing centres. Cleanliness should be maintained in these centres, Dr. Bairy said.