JE claims 5 more lives in UP, toll at 370

Gorakhpur, Dec 1 (UNI) The deadly Japanese Encephalitis (JE) toll in Eastern Uttar Pradesh has mounted to 370, following five more deaths today.

So far, almost 1,877 people suffering from JE have been admitted to Baba Raghav Das Medical College here, which has become the epicentre of the killer disease.

Joint director health Dr Umakant Prasad said 34 patients, including 4 new cases were still under treatment.

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

Of the total cases, about 211 pertained to Bihar, while Nepal accounted for 8 JE cases reported so far.

Out of the 363 JE casualties, 46 victims hailed from Bihar.

Gorakhpur has the dubious distinction 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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