Japanese Encephalitis claims 3 lives, toll at 95

Gorakhpur, Jul 28 (UNI) The vector-borne deadly disease encephalitis today claimed the lives of three children here taking the toll to 95.

The deceased belonged to Gorakhpur, Maharajganj and Bihar.

Last year, JE had killed over 1,000 people in UP, while the scourage has accounted for several thousands of lives in the eastern Uttar Pradesh region over the last decade.

Official sources said so far, 449 JE patients had reported at the Baba Raghav Das Medical College here and other district hospitals in the division, of which, 95 succumbed, including 12 children of Bihar and two of neighbouring country Nepal.

In the last 24 hours, 22 fresh JE cases had come to light, while 77 JE patients were still convalescing at various hospitals.

JE patients mostly trickle 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.

The government undertakes massive vaccination drive against the disease every year. However, the efficacy and penetration of the drive comes under cloud with the mounting toll.

UNI PDM SB KP2105