Bhubaneswar, Oct. 10: With increasing deaths because of the Japanese encephalitis in tribal districts of the state, the municipal corporation started spreading awareness about the disease in vulnerable pockets of the city.

According to officials, the vector-borne disease has so far claimed 45 lives in 31 days in tribal-dominated Malkangiri. As the death toll continues to rise, the state government has decided to undertake cleanliness drive in bordering Koraput district to curb mosquito menace.

As part of spreading awareness, the civic body chose Salia Sahi, a slum in the city where officials, including the sanitary inspectors, health workers and a team from the National Health Mission, undertook a special drive for disinfecting the vulnerable areas yesterday.

The officials have also undertaken a cleanliness drive with bush cutting and drain desilting in the area. "All vector-borne diseases, including the Japanese encephalitis, malaria and the dengue, need to be prevented with proper awareness. If people are aware of symptoms of such diseases, it could be easily prevented," said mayor Ananta Narayan Jena.

In the drive, the residents were asked not to keep pigs in and around the area - which may create serious health hazards in spreading of the Japanese encephalitis virus. "Pigs are the main source of this disease, which has played havoc in Malkangiri. This should not be repeated in any part of the state, for which the people need to be educated," said Jena.

"It is a timely move of the civic body to conduct such an awareness drive in the city. Everyone should keep in mind that prevention is better than cure," said director of health services Kailash Dash.

Dash said the state government was taking all possible efforts to take care of the people and prevent further spread of this vector-borne disease in Malkangiri. It is also taking precautionary measures to check the spread of the disease in other parts of the state. "Pigs are the main source of the disease. They should be isolated from the human habitations," said the director.

Jayadev Vihar resident Harapriya Mohanty said the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation should ensure that no pigs should be found in the city. "It is rare to see pigs in the capital city except some slum areas. The civic body officials should identify those places and undertake measures to control the menace," said Mohanty.

In another development, the state government today decided to provide free food to children and expectant mothers in the affected areas in Malkangiri. Moreover, the National Health Mission has also sought permission from the Centre for provision of encephalitis vaccine for distribution in other districts of the state to avoid the spread.