As the whole country is fighting against the deadly H1N1 (swine flu), it seems that Assam has more to fight on the health front.

In the last two months alone, over 40 people have died in upper Assam due to Japanese Encephalitis (JE) and Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES).

Confirming the development, Sibsagar's Additional District Commissioner Yogesh Barua said: “The number of people affected with Japanese Encephalitis is 125. Out of that, 41 expired...things are under control.”

However, as compared to swine flu there seems to be lesser panic for a disease.  

Notably, Japanese encephalitis, a mosquito-borne disease is transmitted from pigs through mosquitoes. It mostly strikes during the peak breeding period from April to September.

Though there is cure for malaria, there's no specific medicine for Japanese Encephalitis.

Encephalitis causes inflammation of the brain tissue, producing symptoms of high fever, headache, rigidity of the neck, loss of voice and involuntary movement of the body.

Meanwhile, with the main purpose to combat this disease, the state government has now decided to cover the entire population under its vaccination programme.