3 children die of 'encephalitis', 3 others ill

Three children died of suspected encephalitis and as many others taken ill in Bihar's Aurangabad district in the past one week, a government doctor said on Thursday.

Three children of Teldiha village under Madanpur block died between June 23 - 26 with all having shown symptoms of the disease, Aurangabad Sadar hospital's Civil Surgeon P Bharati said.

The children were undergoing treatment at private hospitals, he said, adding the district administration was later informed about the cases by the private hospital management.

Three more children, two from Teldiha village and another from Aurangabad town, showed symptoms of encephalitis and referred to the Anugrah Narayan Magadh Medical College and Hospital at Gaya, Bharati said.

Fogging was being carried out in the affected village and adjoining areas as preventive measure, he said. A control room has been set up and medicated mosquito nets distributed among the villagers.