Earlier today, Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan and MoS Health Ashwini Choubey met patients and their families at Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital in Muzaffarpur. "There should be research to identify the disease that is still not identified and for that research facility should be developed in Muzaffarpur," Harsh Vardhan said after visiting the hospital.
Harsh Vardhan said all branches of the medical sector should work together to control the outbreak of the disease. "We should also work with international organisations to contain the disease."
He said all children in the affected areas should be immunised and people should be sensitised about the disease. Harsh Vardhan, who reviewed the situation, said the Central government has been assisting the state government to control the situation after outbreak of the AES. "The Central government will provide all possible help including financial to the state to control the situation, provide proper treatment and develop infrastructure needed for it."
"It is shocking and painful that children are dying. I have felt the pain and grief of the parents," he said.
CM Nitish Kumar also expressed grief over the children's death in Muzaffarpur and ordered payment of Rs four lakh as ex-gratia to the next of the kin of the deceased, an official release said.
He also directed the officials of the Health department and the district administration as well as doctors to take all possible measures to tackle the disease. The chief minister prayed for a speedy recovery of the children suffering from suspected Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES).
A press release issued by the Muzaffarpur district administration said till Sunday 9 am, 83 children had died at the state-run Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital (SKMCH) and the Kejriwal Hospital, which was run by a trust. According to the release, 69 children had died at the SKMCH, while 14 died at the Kejriwal Hospital due to suspected cases of AES. Officials, however, maintained that a majority of the victims, most of whom were below 10 years of age, had fallen prey to hypoglycemia, a condition caused by a very low level of blood sugar and electrolyte imbalance.
However, as per agencies now the toll has risen to 93.
Since June 1, 197 children were admitted to the SKMCH while 91 were taken to Kejriwal Hospital with suspected AES, but most of them were found to be victims of hypoglycemia.
Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai, who is also the Bihar unit chief of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), visited the SKMCH on Saturday. He expressed grief over the deaths and cancelled all the functions for welcoming him in view of the brain fever that has taken a heavy toll on children's lives. Principal Secretary (Health) Sanjay Kumar had said a few days ago that the disease had affected 222 blocks in 12 districts, especially in Muzaffarpur, Vaishali, Sheohar and East Champaran. A team of experts from the Centre visited Muzaffarpur on Wednesday.