JE claims 3 more lives toll at 229 in UP

Gorakhpur, Sep 10 (UNI) The death toll due to the vector-borne Japanese Encephalitis (JE) in eastern Uttar Pradesh mounted to 229 after the death of three more children today.

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

According to sources, the deceased belonged to Kushinagar Gorakhpur, and Siddharthnagar district.

Sources said this year so far, 1211 JE patients had come to the Baba Raghav Das Medical College and Gorakhpur district hospital, of which 229, including two of Nepal and 19 of Bihar, succumbed.

Today 21 new patients were admitted, while 12 were relieved and 170 were still in remmision.

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 grip till the onset of winters.

UNI PDM SP HT2057