Declare Acute Encephalitis an epidemic, experts urge Bihar govt

Health experts have questioned the Bihar government's delay in declaring Acute Encephalitis Syndrome, a disease that has killed 135 children in the state, as an epidemic.

"Bihar should declare the disease as an epidemic so that doctors can collect brain tissue of the deceased for further tests," said Director of National Institute of Virology Dr A C Mishra.

Mishra made it clear that the state government must act fast to declare the disease as an epidemic. "It is high time the state government declares it an epidemic so that doctors can conduct brain autopsies of the deceased patients," he said.

Mishra said that it was necessary to collect samples of brain tissues to identify the virus.

"Blood samples will not help to diagnose the virus, unless we have samples of brain tissues," he said.

A senior government doctor at the Patna Medical College and Hospital said on condition of anonymity, "Three days ago, the state government had hinted that it may declare the disease an epidemic, but a day after it downplayed the need for it," he said.

He said the state government should declare the disease an epidemic without further delay.

Bihar Health Minister Ashwani Kumar Choubey had said on Monday that the disease would be declared an epidemic, but later said that there was no need for such a move.

A team from the central government has already visited Muzaffarpur, the worst affected district, to collect blood samples on Wednesday.

The government has cancelled the leaves of doctors in ten districts of the state.

Principal Health Secretary Vayasji said the health department has constituted teams of doctors in the six worst affected districts to identify patients for treatment.

"All medical college and hospitals have been directed to provide free medicines to patients showing symptoms of AES," he said.

"Free medication will be provided to patients in rural areas," Vayasji said.

Last year, encephalitis, a mosquito-borne disease, had claimed nearly 150 lives in Muzaffarpur and Gaya districts.