Dang, September 16:

Preparations are underway to vaccinate children below the age of 10 against Japanese encephalitis in the five VDCs hardest hit by the disease in the district of Dang. The encephalitis outbreak has claimed 31 people so far in the district. And it is feared that, among those who left Dang for treatment elsewhere, an equal number of people may have died. District Health Office (DHO), Dang said that 400 vaccine-vials each would be sent to Ghumna and Deupur of Chailahi VDC, 300 vials to Bhauka of Satbariya VDC, 500 to Jethangaun of Gobarhida VDC, 500 to Bardagawa, Bhanpur and Sonpur of Laxmipur VDC and 200 vials each to Dwangpur and Malwar of Duruwa VDC in a week.

Health Administrator of Epidemiology and Disease Control Department, Dr G D Thakur, said that an additional 5000 vials of the vaccine would arrive in Dang within the next two weeks.

“DHO, DDC and NGOs operating in the district will be providing support during the vaccination program,” Thakur said. Since the majority of victims of encephalitis had been children, they would be given priority during the programme, he said.