Encephalitis Death Toll Climbs to 139 in Bihar’s Muzaffarpur

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The death toll in the Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) outbreak in Muzaffarpur continues to rise, with the number touching 139 on Friday, 21 June.

The Supreme Court will hear on Monday, 24 June, a PIL seeking direction to urgently constitute a team of medical experts for treatment of children suffering from AES in Muzaffarpur.

On Tuesday, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar had visited the Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital (SKMCH) and issued directions to bring the situation under control, saying an environmental study should be conducted of the affected areas.

The CM also gave directions to convert SKMCH into a 2,500-bed hospital, with 1,500 beds to be arranged immediately in the first phase.

Nitish Kumar had faced protests by angry people over the deaths when he visited the SKMCH.

Three more children with symptoms of Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) died at a hospital in Bihar’s Muzaffarpur district on Friday, 21 June, taking the toll to 139.

The Bihar health department had on Thursday released state-wide figures putting the total toll following the outbreak, which has spread across 16 districts, at 136.

With the latest three casualties the death toll rose to 139 though unconfirmed reports claim that the number has crossed 150.