Mosquito Menace in India: Chinks in Health Care Establishment

Consider this: The reputation of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, regarded a premier institute for thousands of medical and health care professionals, students and researchers, has been tarnished by a deadly dengue outbreak. How ironic it may sound, the sprawling premise, cramped with quarters and not far from an active but stagnant drain, actually serves as a haven for mosquitoes and other disease carrying vectors.

BISWAJAYEE A. PATRA

Cerebral Concern: Japanese Encephalitis Epidemic in South Asia

The deadly Japanese Encephalitis (JE) killed over twelve hundred people in less than four months in northern India and neighboring Nepal. The disease has gripped more than 25 districts of Uttar Pradesh, some parts of Bihar in India and Kailali, Banke, Bardiya districts of the Himalayan Kingdom. The situation has deteriorated due to unexpected revival of monsoon in mid September across north India, coupled with a shortfall of vaccines and life-saving drugs.

Animesh Roul