Encephalitis spreading in Bihar, 92 children dead

Patna: Fifteen more children died in Bihar of suspected encephalitis in the past 24 hours as the disease spread to new districts, taking the death toll to 92, officials said Monday.
Thirteen children died of the suspected Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) Sunday while two children died Monday, taking the death toll to 92, health officials said.
The disease, which was limited to Muzaffarpur district till last week, has now spread to at least half a dozen districts across the state. “The AES is now spreading its tentacles to new areas,” said Deepak Kumar, principal secretary of the health department.
AES is a severe case of encephalitis characterised by inflammation of the brain. The mosquitoes transmit the infection causing high fever among the children. (IANS)