by Peerzada Arshad Hamid
NEW DELHI, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Death toll due to Encephalitis in India's eastern state of Bihar continues to rise, officials said Saturday.
According to officials, 75 children have died due to suspected Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) in the state. The worst affected being Muzaffarpur district.
"So far 75 deaths have been reported due to AES in which maximum casualties have been reported from Muzaffarpur and adjoining area," an official said.
Around 100 children are still undergoing treatment at Sri Krishna Medical College and hospital and Kejriwal Matrisadan hospital, officials said.
The local health department officials said they were taking all preventive measures to contain the spread of disease.
"We have taken all precautionary measures to contain the spread of the disease further," an official posted in Muzaffarpur said.
As per data available with the health department, majority of the suspected AES cases have been reported from Muzaffarpur, Sheohar, Vaishali and East Champaran districts.
"Kanti, Musahari, Katra, Minapur and Muraul blocks in Muzaffarpur district have been identified as most vulnerable for the suspected AES cases," the official said.
The local government has intensified the awareness campaign in the worst hit villages to check the spread of the disease further.
"An alert has also been sounded about the disease in other districts," the official said. "We are hopeful that the it would bring out desired results."
On Wednesday a multi-specialist high-level team from India's federal health ministry visited Muzaffarpur to assist the state government in the containment and management of rising cases of AES. The team submitted a report to health ministry
Experts say the disease mostly affects children below 15 years of age and symptoms of AES are acute-onset of fever and a change in mental status - confusion, disorientation, delirium, or coma - and onset of seizures.
According to officials AES outbreaks are routine in areas in and around Muzaffarpur during summer.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said the AES cases recurred because awareness campaign was not done properly in the state.
Meanwhile, India's federal health minister Harsh Vardhan would Sunday visit Muzaffarpur where he is likely to take stock of situation in wake of the due to encephalitis outbreak.
"While the centre (federal government) is extending all support to the state of Bihar for the containment and management of the recent surge of AES and Japanese Encephalitis (JE) cases, I shall be going to Muzaffarpur tomorrow to take stock and review the situation at the site with the state government," Vardhan in a statement said.
The minister said his ministry was constantly monitoring the situation and supporting the local government in managing the AES and JE cases.
