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Over two dozen children die of suspected encephalitis
Patna, June 19 (IANS) More than 25 children have died of suspected encephalitis and many affected children have been battling for survival in Bihar's Muzaffarpur district for the past few days.
The district administration has sounded a high alert to check the spread of the killer disease. The children reported sudden light fever in the early morning, which was followed by bouts of unconsciousness and convulsion leading to their death.
Civil surgeon Ramnagina Prasad Singh confirmed the deaths of the children due to suspected encephalitis.
Unofficial figures say the number of children to have died of the mosquito-borne disease was high. The viral infection leads to inflammation of the brain.
Muzaffarpur-based S.K. Medical College and Hospital superintendent G.K. Thakur said he had urged health experts in Pune to visit Muzaffarpur to study the cause of spread of the disease and direct district officials on preventive measures.
"The team of experts from Pune will ascertain whether the children died from encephalitis. If encephalitis is proved, they will check to see if it is common encephalitis or Japanese encephalitis," Thakur said.
Singh told IANS over phone that DDT spraying would begin on Monday in the affected areas.
State health department officials said that the World Health Organisation has expressed serious concern over the recurrence of encephalitis in Muzaffarpur this time. This is the third time in seven years that encephalitis has hit Muzaffarpur. Last year over 30 children died of the disease in the district.
A WHO team is likely to visit Muzaffarpur soon to study the cause of the disease and submit a report to the government. "The WHO team will visit affected villages and meet the family members of children who have died," an official said.
Over two dozen children die of suspected encephalitis
Patna, June 19 (IANS) More than 25 children have died of suspected encephalitis and many affected children have been battling for survival in Bihar's Muzaffarpur district for the past few days.
The district administration has sounded a high alert to check the spread of the killer disease. The children reported sudden light fever in the early morning, which was followed by bouts of unconsciousness and convulsion leading to their death.
Civil surgeon Ramnagina Prasad Singh confirmed the deaths of the children due to suspected encephalitis.
Unofficial figures say the number of children to have died of the mosquito-borne disease was high. The viral infection leads to inflammation of the brain.
Muzaffarpur-based S.K. Medical College and Hospital superintendent G.K. Thakur said he had urged health experts in Pune to visit Muzaffarpur to study the cause of spread of the disease and direct district officials on preventive measures.
"The team of experts from Pune will ascertain whether the children died from encephalitis. If encephalitis is proved, they will check to see if it is common encephalitis or Japanese encephalitis," Thakur said.
Singh told IANS over phone that DDT spraying would begin on Monday in the affected areas.
State health department officials said that the World Health Organisation has expressed serious concern over the recurrence of encephalitis in Muzaffarpur this time. This is the third time in seven years that encephalitis has hit Muzaffarpur. Last year over 30 children died of the disease in the district.
A WHO team is likely to visit Muzaffarpur soon to study the cause of the disease and submit a report to the government. "The WHO team will visit affected villages and meet the family members of children who have died," an official said.