Muzaffarpur: Fresh deaths due to Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) have been reported in Bihar's Muzaffarpur district, taking the total number of casualties to 168.
The deaths were reported from Shri Krishna Medical College and Hospital (SKMCH), where 32 fresh cases were admitted. In the last 19 days, the number of children admitted to the hospital with AES are 461, in which 152 died.
In Kejriwal Hospital, eight fresh cases of the AES were reported. However, according to the latest report released by the Health Department, 95 children died in Muzaffarpur on Wednesday.
It further said that 11 medical officers posted in Darbhanga, Supaul and Madhubani had been instructed to leave for Muzaffarpur, immediately, to help the local health authorities in tackling the outbreak.
Three paediatricians posted in other districts have also been pressed into the service, while 12 nurses have been directed to report to the Civil Surgeon of Muzaffarpur.
Anguished by the deaths, a Muzaffarpur resident has filed a petition at a local court against Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, his deputy Sushil Modi, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, Minister of State Ashwini Choubey and State Health Minister Mangal Pandey.
The resident, Mohd Nasim, accused them of negligence, which has resulted in the high number of casualties. The Chief Judicial Magistrate Court has posted the matter for hearing next Tuesday.
Nitish Kumar had on Tuesday visited the SKMCH hospital, where he faced protests by angry people over the deaths.
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