New Delhi: With one more death being reported on Wednesday morning, the toll due to Acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) epidemic has reached 132 in Muzaffarpur district in Bihar. News agency ANI reported that a total of 111 deaths in SKMCH and 21 have died at the privately-owned Kejriwal Hospital in Bihar.
Earlier on Tuesday Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan had claimed that the mortality rate due to Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) cases in Bihar has come down significantly due to strategic interventions made by the central government.
The Supreme Court on Monday expressed "serious concerns" over the rising deaths of the AES patients, saying "it is a matter of great concern". While hearing a plea filed by two advocates, a Bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and BR Gavai said: "This (death of children) cannot go on."
The petitioner had sought constitution of a team of medical experts for the treatment of children suffering from encephalitis disease. Bihar government told the court that it is taking all necessary steps to control the outbreak of the AES in Muzaffarpur and that the situation is "absolutely under control."
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had announced an ex-gratia compensation of Rs 4 lakh each to the families of the children who died due to the AES. He had also given directions to the health department, district administration and doctors to take necessary measures for the containment of the disease.
AES, known as 'chamki' in local parlance, is characterised by high fever and convulsions and strikes children north Bihar every year. The relatively higher number of deaths this year have been attributed to hypoglycemia or very low blood sugar levels.
The condition is said to be triggered by a toxin found in high concentrations in unripe litchi which is grown in abundance in Muzaffarpur and adjoining districts.
The AES is a viral disease that causes flu-like symptoms such as high fever, vomiting and in extreme cases, brain dysfunction, seizure, and inflammation of heart and kidney.