The Centre on Wednesday declared Japanese Encephalitis (JE) as a notifiable disease and asked states to ensure that all health care providers inform local authorities about such cases, a move aimed at reducing the transmission of the disease and stopping it from spreading to newer areas. The move of the Union Health Ministry, which issued a notification to this effect on Wednesday, comes after Health Minister J P Nadda had given an assurance to Lok Sabha in August this year for making JE a notifiable disease. “JE is an important public health concern in the country accounting for substantial morbidity, mortality and disability.