Deadly Encephalitis toll at 169

Gorakhpur, Sep 19 (UNI) The deadly Japanese Encephalitis (JE) toll in eastern Uttar Pradesh reached 169, following the death of two more children today.

Joint director health Dr Umakant Prasad said the patients' inflow was continuing at the Baba Raghav Das Medical College here.

Since April, around 1,000 people suffering from JE have been admitted at the medical college.

Almost 100 patients -- including 12 fresh cases -- are still undergoing treatment.

Three JE patients each are also recuperating at the Gorakhpur and Deoria district hospitals.

The patients belong to Gorakhpur, Deoria, Maharajganj, Sant Kabirnagar, Kushinagar, Basti, Siddharthnagar, Azamgarh, Gonda and Balrampur district of UP.

At least 126 cases pertain to Bihar, while Nepal accounts for four JE cases reported so far. Of the 169 JE deaths, 24 victims hailed from Bihar, Dr Prasad informed.

Gorakhpur has the dubious distiction of being the JE epicentre in the region. The endemic afflicts eastern UP during monsoon every year.

The government had undertaken a massive vaccination drive against the vector-borne disease, however, the efficacy and penetration of the drive has come under cloud with the mounting toll.

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