Guwahati: The National Health Mission (NHM), Assam, has clarified that Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) and Japanese Encephalitis (JE) are two different conditions and should not be reported as the same disease.
In a statement, NHM Assam said that while JE is one of the causes of AES, not all AES cases are JE cases.
According to data from the National Centre for Vector Borne Disease Control (NCVBDC), Assam, the state has reported 35 Japanese Encephalitis cases and 7 deaths due to the disease up to June 17, 2026.
NHM clarified that the figures of 470 AES cases and 32 deaths reported in the state relate to Acute Encephalitis Syndrome and should not be treated as JE cases or JE-related deaths.
The mission stated that the Assam Government has been carrying out preparedness measures for the AES-JE season since February this year. These include strengthening surveillance, hospital preparedness, vaccination drives, training of medical officers and ensuring the availability of essential medicines.
NHM Assam has urged media organisations and stakeholders to report AES and JE data separately to avoid confusion regarding the disease situation in the state.
The clarification was issued by NHM Assam Executive Director Dr. Abhijit Sarma.
