The dead include mostly children below 14 years of age. Official sources said that this year, 1788 patients of brain fever have been admitted to different government hospitals in Gorakhpur and Basti division. As many as 267 patients are still undergoing treatment in these hospitals.
Despite three rounds of vaccination for Japanese Encephalitis the disease continues unabated in the Himalayan foothills of Uttar Pradesh. Of total 2000 patients of encephalitis detected this year around ten percent have been tested positive for Japanese Encephalitis. In BRD Medical College hospital here, two-three children are being treated on a single bed due to resource crunch.
According to AIR, the Director General Health has reviewed the situation in Gorakhpur and Kushinagar on Sunday where the number of patients is higher. Experts say that the cases are mostly of water-borne encephalitis that occurs due to use of contaminated water. Several voluntary organisations are working to create awareness among the masses about the cleanliness and hygiene.
In Bihar too encephalitis is suspected to have claimed 19 lives. The state is running short of kits to diagnose the disease.
The three children died at Anugrah Narain Medical College and Hospital (ANMCH) in Gaya, about, said a district health official. Sixteen children had earlier died of suspected encephalitis earlier.