Bhubaneswar, Oct. 7: The number of deaths caused by Japanese encephalitis is yet to show any sign of letting up with the death toll in Malkangiri district rising to 36 after two more children died today.

"At least 36 people have died because of the vector-borne disease in the district, while another 46 are undergoing treatment at the hospital," Malkangiri collector K. Sudarshan Chakravarthy told newspersons today.

Around 33 villages, spread over six blocks in the district, have been affected by the disease, which broke out in the first week of September.

District officials said at least 14 mobile health teams were engaged to tackle the situation, while steps had been initiated to shift pigs from near human habitations as they were found to be carriers of the Japanese encephalitis virus.

An official said over 2,400 pigs had already been captured for relocation to enclosures that have been built at considerable distances from the villages.

In a related development, Union minister of state for petroleum and natural gas and Rajya Sabha MP Dharmendra Pradhan today met Union health minister J.P. Nadda to discuss the encephalitis situation in the state.

Pradhan and said the Centre was ready to provide necessary help to Odisha to check the spread of the disease.

"The Union health secretary is in touch with the state government over the issue," he said, adding that the Nadda had assured support to Odisha.

Besides Malkangiri, Balasore and Puri districts also reported two cases of encephalitis. While a 14-year-old boy from Balasore's Nilgiri area is undergoing treatment at SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack, another boy from Puri's Brahmagiri area is also suffering from the disease.

To counter the menace, chief minister Naveen Patnaik today distributed appointment letters to 363 doctors to meet the shortage of doctors in the state.

"At present, there is about 22 per cent vacancy of doctors. Compared to last year, vacancies in undivided Koraput-Balangir-Kalahandi districts and other backward districts have reduced by 13 per cent," Naveen said.

Naveen also added that the government had recently created 500 doctors' posts and taken steps to recruit 800 additional medicos to tide over the staff shortage that has plagued health care situation in the state.

The state government has taken measures, such as place-based incentive, counselling for transfers and postings and transparent exit policy for these doctors.