7 more succumb to encephalitis, toll climbs to 390

Seven more children succumbed to encephalitis at the BRD Medical College Hospital in Gorakhpur, taking the death toll due to the disease in eastern Uttar Pradesh to 390 this year.

The deceased, who died in Gorakhpur on Wednesday, belonged to Gonda (1), Basti (1) Gorakhpur (1), Siddharthanagar (2), and Kushinagar (2), health officials said on Thursday.

Additional director (Health) Diwakar Prasad said 23 people suffering from encephalitis were admitted to BRD MCH and other government hospitals yesterday.

A total of 2511 encephalitis patients were admitted to different government hospitals of the region this year of which 390 died, he said, adding that over 270 patients are still being treated at these hospitals.

Meanwhile, the Gram Pradhans of sensitive areas have been advised to launch massive sanitation campaign from their own budget to check the spread of the vector-borne disease which is mainly caused due to consumption of contaminated water and unhygienic conditions.