UP govt admits to 60 encephalitis deaths

Lucknow, Aug 24 (UNI) Uttar Pradesh government today admitted to 60 deaths due to the deadly encephalitis in the state this year.

The issue was raised by senior Congress leader Jagdambika Pal.

Replying on the matter, state revenue minister Ambika Chaudhary, however, said against 60 encephalitis deaths, only one Japanese encephalitis death had been reported since January.

He dubbed the vaccination programme cent per cent effective in UP, saying 56 lakh vials were administered to children.

''Last year, Encephalitis menace had gripped 34 districts, which has reduced to 16 districts this year,'' he asserted.

However, Congress staged a noisy walkout claiming there was acute shortage of medicines at government hospitals to deal with the menace and that they were not admitting Encephalitis patients.

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