Health Ministry has decided to rush a team of experts to Assam to deal with the outbreak of Japanese encephalitis which has claimed over 60 lives so far. Health Minister JP Nadda who held a review meeting in this regard said, his Ministry is closely monitoring the situation and additional help, if needed would be provided with immediate effect. He said, Director General of Health Services has been directed to immediately rush a team of experts to Assam to assist and advise the State health authorities in clinical management of the cases. Enumerating on the steps taken by the Ministry to assist the Assam Government, the Health Minister said, all the necessary assistance is being provided to the state of Assam to handle this outbreak effectively. He said, senior officers are in regular touch with the state health authorities and sufficient number of testing kits has already been provided to the state. The additional director of the National Vector Borne Diseases Control Programme is also camping in Assam since 22nd of this month. An official statement said, the Ministry has already sanctioned funds for establishment of three paediatric ICUs in district hospitals at Sivasagar, Golaghat and Lakhimpur. The Health Minister has advised the State Government to operationalize these ICUs immediately. Also, keeping in view the large number of deaths the State Government has been advised to manage the cases locally to save precious lives. Extensive fogging is also being carried out. To address the situation, the State Government has asked the physicians from medical colleges to stay in district hospitals on rotation.<br/><br/>365 positive cases and 66 deaths due to Japanese encephalitis have been reported from the state so far.