Guwahati, June 18: The National Health Mission (NHM) Assam on Thursday clarified that Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) and Japanese Encephalitis (JE) are distinct health conditions and should not be reported interchangeably, amid concerns over confusion in disease-related data.
In an official statement, NHM Assam said that while Japanese Encephalitis is one of the causes of AES, not all AES cases are JE cases. The clarification follows media reports that allegedly presented AES and JE figures together without adequately distinguishing between the two.
According to data available with the National Centre for Vector Borne Disease Control (NCVBDC), Assam has recorded 35 confirmed Japanese Encephalitis cases and seven deaths up to June 17, 2026.
NHM Assam emphasized that the widely cited figures of 470 AES cases and 32 deaths relate to Acute Encephalitis Syndrome and should not be construed as Japanese Encephalitis infections or fatalities.
The clarification comes amid heightened public concern over seasonal encephalitis outbreaks in the state, which witnesses a surge in vector-borne diseases during the monsoon months.
Meanwhile, Assam Health Minister Ashok Singhal said Japanese Encephalitis continues to pose a recurring public health challenge despite sustained government efforts to control its spread.
Speaking during an inspection visit to Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Singhal noted that while prevention, surveillance and treatment measures have been intensified, the disease cannot be completely eradicated due to its complex transmission cycle involving mosquitoes, pigs and environmental factors.
During the visit, the minister reviewed ongoing infrastructure projects and assessed healthcare services at the state’s premier medical institution, describing it as his first official inspection of GMCH since taking charge of the Health Department.
Health authorities have urged the public to remain vigilant and adopt preventive measures, particularly in districts prone to Japanese Encephalitis during the monsoon season.
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 Assam on Thursday clarified that Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) and Japanese Encephalitis (JE) are distinct health conditions and should not be reported interchangeably, amid concerns over confusion in disease-related data.){kind=link}