Death toll of children due to encephalitis rises to 62 in Muzaffarpur

As many as 62 children have died due to Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) in Muzaffarpur district of Bihar. Encephalitis is a viral infection which causes mild flu-like symptoms such as high fever, convulsions, and headaches.

Muzaffarpur (Bihar): As many as 62 children have died due to Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) so far in Muzaffarpur district of Bihar.

In the wake of this, a high-level meeting was conducted on Thursday in Delhi. In addition to the Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, the State Minister Ashwani Choubey and all the other top officials were present.

• 'चमकी बुखार' को लेकर दिल्ली में हाई लेवल मीटिंग, केंद्रीय स्वास्थ्य मंत्री रहे मौजूद
  https://t.co/lDdf9jKUJk

  — Etv Bihar (@etvbharatbihar) June 13, 2019 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="

  'चमकी बुखार' को लेकर दिल्ली में हाई लेवल मीटिंग, केंद्रीय स्वास्थ्य मंत्री रहे मौजूद
  https://t.co/lDdf9jKUJk

  — Etv Bihar (@etvbharatbihar) June 13, 2019

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  'चमकी बुखार' को लेकर दिल्ली में हाई लेवल मीटिंग, केंद्रीय स्वास्थ्य मंत्री रहे मौजूद
  https://t.co/lDdf9jKUJk

  — Etv Bihar (@etvbharatbihar) June 13, 2019

  
  

According to officials, dozens of children are undergoing treatment in Sri Krishna Medical College Hospital and Kejriwal Hospital in Muzaffarpur, where the condition of some was stated to be critical.

The casualties have been reported from Muzaffarpur Samastipur and Vaishali districts, with Muzaffarpur recording the highest number of casualties

"We are monitoring all this. The Health Ministry in the state held a meeting on this and decided to make people aware of Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES)," said Mangal Pandey, Health Minister of Bihar.

Death toll of children due to encephalitis rises to 62 in Bihar

"A team comprising of one professor, three associate professors, four assistant professors, nine senior residents and 15 junior residents are seeing this matter and looking after the children. We are providing more beds in both the hospitals for treatment," he added.

Civil Surgeon, Shailesh Kumar said that most of the sick children are suffering from hypoglycemia (lack of sugar in the blood) and due to lack of sugar and sodium in the body this disease attacks.

The Health Department has also issued an advisory urging parents to prevent their children from playing under the sun when the temperature is hovering over 40 degree Celsius.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has expressed concern over the situation and has directed the Health Department to ensure that the Primary Health Centres and hospital standards are as per the requirement.

Encephalitis is a viral infection which causes mild flu-like symptoms such as high fever, convulsions, and headaches.