JE claims five more lives; toll at 215

Gorakhpur, Sep 6 (UNI) The vector-borne Japanese Encephalitis (JE) toll in East Uttar Pradesh today mounted to 215 following the death of five more children today.

The scourge has killed several thousands in the region over the last decade.

According to sources, two children succumbed in Siddharthnagar, whereas one each died in Gorakhpur, Sant Kabirnagar and Maharajganj districts.

Sources said this year so far, 1158 JE patients were admitted to the Baba Raghav Das Medical College and Gorakhpur district hospital, of which 215, including two of Nepal and 16 of Bihar, succumbed.

In the last 24 hours, 21 new cases came to light, while 173 JE patients were still in remmision.

JE patients mostly trickled from Gorakhpur, Maharajganj, Sant Kabirnagar, Deoria, Kushinagar, Basti, Siddharthnagar, Azamgarh, Gonda, Bahraich, Mau, Ballia and Balrampur districts of UP.

Gorakhpur has the dubious distiction of being the JE epicentre in the region.

The endemic afflicts eastern UP during monsoon every year and continues to take people under its jaws till the onset of winters.

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