25 sept 2011
Beware! Japanese encephalitis strikes Delhi
The virus found on pigs is usually common to Uttar Pradesh but some cases have come up in Delhi hospitals as well.
New Delhi: The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has suddenly woken up to the health and hygiene of pigs. Not because Delhiites have taken a huge liking for pork, but because cases of Japanese encephalitis ( JE) have surfaced in the city.
Now one might ask what pigs have got to do with Japanese encephalitis. The answer is that domestic pigs play host to the virus.
Mosquitoes belonging to the Culex tritaeniorhynchus group, which breeds in flooded rice fields, become infected when they draw blood from the virus carrying pigs. Infected mosquitoes then transmit the Japanese encephalitis virus to humans and animals.
The virus, in its most deadly form, can affect the central nervous system, brain and the spinal cord and cause severe complications, even death.
Now one might ask what pigs have got to do with Japanese encephalitis. The answer is that domestic pigs play host to the virus.
Mosquitoes belonging to the Culex tritaeniorhynchus group, which breeds in flooded rice fields, become infected when they draw blood from the virus carrying pigs. Infected mosquitoes then transmit the Japanese encephalitis virus to humans and animals.
The virus, in its most deadly form, can affect the central nervous system, brain and the spinal cord and cause severe complications, even death.
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