**Malkangiri**: It seems the tribal-dominated Malkangiri district in Odisha is in the grip of Japanese Encephalitis (JE), a viral disease spread through mosquito bites, as two more kids succumbed to the disease taking the death toll to 22.
According to reports, two male children, who were undergoing treatment at the Malkangiri District Headquarters Hospital (DHH), died on Thursday night.
While one deceased was identified as Jhansi (5) of Namakonda village under Korukonda block of the district, the name of another is yet to be ascertained. The two had been admitted in the hospital after they complained of fever, vomiting and fatigue.
Doctors said JE is a viral disease spread through mosquito bites and in most cases it is the cause of patient’s death. Symptoms usually take around five to 15 days to develop which include fever, headache, vomiting, confusion and difficulty in moving. According to the collector, the disease has been reported from 16 villages of Korkunda and Kalimela blocks but around 70% of cases are from four villages.
According to a government official 16 villages across Malkangiri, Kalimela, Mathili and Podia blocks of the district are the worst affected. Mansa, Goreiguda and Bailapalli under Malkangiri block and eight villages of Analguda, Palkonda, Sindhiguda, Siadimal, Chitapari, Kachalwada, Tekguda and Dangaskhal under Korukonda block besides Golaguda in Podia block and Dhungiaput in Mathili block are affected by the disease
Meanwhile, an expert team from Berhampur is providing treatment to the affected children, he added.