Our Correspondent / New Delhi
The Center has decided to set up a permanent multi-disciplinary expert group in the Health Ministry to recommend measures to be taken up in case of an outbreak of Acute Encephalitis Syndrome and Japanese Encephalitis. The group will also suggest to a long term understanding about the cause of the disease and to prevent the cases.
The group will have experts including from National Centre for Disease Control, AIIMS, ICMR , Ministries of Science and Technology, Women and Child Development. Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan instructed for constitution of the group while chairing the meeting of a multi-disciplinary group of experts in New Delhi today. The multi-disciplinary group discussed and deliberated on the factors causing high child mortality in the reported cases of encephalitis in Muzaffarpur, Bihar and measures to be taken up to prevent child mortality.
He said, the group should meet regularly during the year to monitor the recommendations of the two central expert teams that are presently stationed in Muzaffarpur and deliberate upon their findings and also any suggestions received from other experts in the matter. Dr. Harsh Vardhan said, Centre is actively supporting the Bihar Government to contain Acute Encephalitis Syndrome and Japanese Encephalitis and also to search for long term solutions through evidence generated by sound research.
He said, two central multi-disciplinary teams are already stationed in Bihar and supporting the state government. The Minister said, Senior officers of the Health Ministry are in regular communication with the state government and providing all technical and other support.