Talking to the reporters here at the civil Secretariat State Immunization Officer (SIO) Madhushudon Chowdhury issuing a press release said, “One case is due to measles encephalitis and another case due to multi-organ failure.”

Ritika Pal (10) of Kamalasagar breathed her last at Agartala GBP Hospital on June 1 whereas another Ariful Islam died on May 30. 

Both the children were reportedly pushed with the Japanese encephalitis vaccination in spite they were suffering from fever.

He said that considering the endemicity of JE cases in Tripura the govt. here has allowed JE vaccination during the year 2015-16 in three districts of Tripura comprising of West, Sepahijala and Khowai in first phase in the age group of 1-15 years. Till June 1, 207986 numbers of 1-15 years aged children have been vaccinated. JE vaccine is safe like other vaccines are used in universal immunization programme, he said.

However later he on behalf of the department appealed to the community not to panic as the vaccine is safe and the most powerful means to prevent the disease JE.  

However but after at least two children had breathed their last after they were pushed with JE vaccination and another left critically ill and are recently undergoing treatment at Kolkata, the incident has triggered a panic among the parents of the children across the state. The victim’s parents alleged that due to the negligence role of the state health department they had to lose their child. 

They have accused a section of doctors who are not aware of the Japanese encephalitis vaccination and its effect and complications.

Besides, it is worthy to mention here that while launching the nationwide Japanese encephalitis vaccination programme here in Tripura, the department has not publicised the vaccination and its effects and complications.

Following which a section of parents or the guardians are not aware of it and as a result they carried their children to get them pushed with the vaccination.

Besides, what made it more interesting is that after the three children were admitted to the hospitals here, the doctors have failed to cure them and as a result at least 2 children died and another has been referred to Kolkata Hospital and is recently undergoing treatment in critical condition.