Dhangadhi, June 16:

With the onset of monsoon Japanese encephalitis (JE) has spread in Kailali district.

Until now one person, Cheej Mani Chaudhary, of Laxmipur VDC, has died and 15 had been admitted in Seti Zonal Hospital for treatment of JE, superintendent Gan-esh Bahadur Singh said.

Two persons, one from Parasan of Kanchanpur district and another from Urma VDC of Kailali, had returned home after treatment.

Hospital records revealed that 19 patients died of Japanese encephalitis in 2004, 46 in 2005, seven in 2006 and 11 in 2007.

This data is only of those reported in the Seti Hospital and deaths from the disease in other health centres have not been accounted for.

Hospital sources said the district public health office had administered JE vaccine last year, but this year it has not administered any vaccine. District public health office chief Harish Chandra Shah said the Health Ministry had no programme to tackle the JE so far.