Two more succumb to encephalitis; toll climbs to 101

Two children succumbed to encephalitis in Gorakhpour, taking the toll in the viral disease in eastern Uttar Pradesh to 101 this year.

The two children hailing from Gorakhpur and Sidhharthanagar died on Tuesday at the Baba Raghav Das Medical College Hospital, health officials said on Wednesday.

They said a total of 421 patients showing symptoms of encephalitis have been admitted to the hospital and adjoining district hospitals this year. While some of the patients were suffering from Japanese Encephalitis, most of them were suffering from Acute Encephalitis Syndrome.

The JE spreads due to mosquito bites while AES spreads due to viruses present in contaminated water.