The Japanese encephalitis death toll in Malkangiri district rose to 42 on Saturday with the death of two children died at Malkangiri district headquarters hospital.

The deaths were reported in tribal-dominated Malkangiri district, about 650 km southwest of Bhubaneswar city, the capital of Odisha.

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is the most important cause of viral encephalitis in Asia. It is a flavivirus related to dengue, yellow fever and West Nile viruses, and is spread by mosquitoes.

A senior health official Arati Ahuja told media the local government has decided to construct enclosures (pigpens) near affected villages to isolate Japanese encephalitis infected pigs in order to curb the disease, which is mainly spreading through mosquito bites.