Guwahati, Aug 20: The National Health Mission (NHM) has shared that 370 cases of Japanese Encephalitis and 77 deaths during the last one month were reported in Assam.

Two fresh fatalities due to the infection were reported from Kamrup district. Two new cases were also registered during the day, one each from Goalpara and Sonitpur.

The Japanese encephalitis tally in the state stands at 377.

All nine medical colleges in Assam and 10 district hospitals have been kept ready with ICU and laboratory test facilities, and designated as Japanese encephalitis treatment centres.

It is a viral brain infection that spreads through mosquito bites. The virus is found in pigs and birds, and is passed to mosquitoes when they bite the infected animals.

Rapid Response teams on Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) and JE have been formed across the state to combat and control the disease from spreading.