"Mastishk Jwar"

• "Mastishk Jawar affecting the areas of Eastern U.P.
• A deadly virus, that attacks the brain.
• More than 250 lives have been affected by the "Mastishk Jwar" which ravages Gorakhpur and ten adjoining districts in eastern UP from mid-July to October every year.
• Last year the death rate was reported to be 556 . In 2008, the count was 495; in 2007 it has been reported to be approximately 525; and, in 2006, 476 cases have been reported.
• The condition , this year is worsening, there are not enough beds, at the hospitals to admit the patients. The ratio at which the patients are sharing the hospital bed is 2:1 and at places even 3 patients have to share the same bed. 
• However, since 2004 there was an uncertainty regarding the nature of the disease, but in 2005 the outbreak resulted to 1,200 patients .
•  After such a huge number, Gorakhpur has been an area of concern for the health ministry. The UP provided the JE vaccination, but it was not of much help as children kept on dying and a large number of the lot were not even JE positive.
• Samples have been sent to the Centre for Disease Control and the results are awaited.
• Dr K P Kushwaha, Head of Paediatrics Department at the BRD Medical College, said: “We can only take measures to provide life support; recovery is natural in these cases. In AES, multiple organs are affected and we can only give symptomatic treatment. It will be difficult to eradicate the disease unless there is a public movement for preventive measures.”

The true nature of the virus is still under question, and the effective vaccines are still awaited to hit the hospitals, and save the lives of the young patients.

Posted in: Fever,Health,panic