The state government's Japanese encephalitis immunization drive could curtail the number of cases affecting children in the age group of 1 to 15. The latest figures indicate that the number of cases in this age group has dropped to just six in last two months from 100 cases reported last year. As many as 6.20 lakh children out of the targeted 7.20 lakh children were immunized in the State between March and June 2006. The disease strikes between July to September every year.

Eleven districts in the State are known for the disease. The disease, which is known to affect the Bellary district particularly, has noticed a sharp fall in the incidence. Every year at least 3,000 children in the districts of Bellary, Raichur, Bidar and Gulbarga succumb to the disease.

Bellary was among the 11 districts in the state, which was selected for the massive immunization programme. Fogging, spraying, release of fish in the tanks and wells and programmes to create an awareness about the disease were also taken up as a part of the disease control measures. The vaccination programme is still continuing in all the 27 districts of the State.

According to Dr MG Prasad, director, Directorate of Health and Family Welfare, government of Karnataka, between July to September this year, six children contracted the disease. Two cases each were reported from Bellary Urban and Bellary Rural and Sandur taluks. Five cases were reported in August and one this month. So far there have been no deaths, which proves the success of the immunization programme.

Compared to the previous years, the immunization programme has reduced the number of cases, stated Dr HC Ramesh, in-charge malaria, filaria and Japanese Encephalitis control cell, Directorate of Health and Family Welfare, government of Karnataka.

Japanese Encephalitis is spread by the culex mosquito which breeds in the fresh water. Pigs are carriers of the virus. A total of 500 cases were reported in 2001 with 150 deaths, 300 in 2002 with 120 deaths, 220 in 2003 with 105 deaths, 180 in 2004 with no deaths and 100 in 2005 with 10 deaths. More number of cases have been reported from the Bellary city and Bellary Rural followed by Sriguppa taluks, which are covered by irrigation and paddy fields and it, is these, which provide the space for breeding for mosquitoes.

Thirty three per cent who get the disease are likely to be left with some mental or physical disability.

The Vijayanagar Institute of Medical Sciences (VIMS) under its autonomous wing 'Women's and Children Hospital' has the expertise to treat since the disease is common in the region. The other major facility in the State is the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) where cases from the neighbouring districts like Raichur, Koppal, Chitradurga and also from Kurnool and Anantapur districts in Andhra Pradesh are referred.