Bongaigaon District Task Force Holds Meeting to Prevent Acute Encephalitis Syndrome and Japanese Encephalitis

BONGAIGAON | 14th May 2026 | The first District Task Force meeting of the year to prevent the spread of Japanese Encephalitis (JE) and Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) was held on Wednesday at the conference hall of the District Commissioner’s office in Bongaigaon. The meeting was organized by the District Health Society under the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme and was chaired by District Commissioner Dibakar Nath.

At the beginning of the meeting, Joint Director of Health Services Dr. Gopal Ray delivered the welcome address, explained the objectives of the meeting, and presented the latest health situation in the district.

According to the health department, while 40 AES cases were detected in the district last year, 12 cases have been reported so far this year. However, no case of Japanese Encephalitis has been detected in the district till now. The health department has already started fever surveillance, blood sample collection, and awareness programmes through health sub-centres across the district.

The department also plans to intensify anti-larval spraying in drains and waterlogged areas, conduct fogging drives, and increase public awareness campaigns through leaflets and microphone announcements in the coming days.

During the meeting, the District Commissioner directed all concerned departments to strengthen fogging operations and awareness activities. He also instructed every department to submit an “Action Taken Report” in the next meeting. Emphasising grassroots-level awareness, he stressed the importance of involving frontline health workers to educate the public about preventive measures.

It was also highlighted in the meeting that AES and JE are mainly spread between June and September through Culex mosquitoes, which breed in paddy fields and stagnant water areas.

Regarding vaccination, the health department informed that the district has already achieved 88 percent coverage among children aged 1 to 15 years. Adult vaccination coverage has also increased to 68 percent, while routine immunisation activities are continuing across the district.

Additional District Commissioner Pranjal Kumar Das, along with senior officials from the health department and other departments, were also present at the meeting.