Seven more children fell prey to JE; toll at 277

Gorakhpur, Sep 22 (UNI) The vector-borne Japanese Encephalitis claimed the lives of seven more children in the last 24 hours, taking the toll to 277 in eastern Uttar Pradesh.

The deceased belonged to Bihar (2), Kushinagar (3) and one each from Gorakhpur and Sant Kabirbagar.

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

Official sources said so far, 1,480 JE patients had been reported at the Baba Raghav Das Medical College here and other district hospitals in the division.

Normally, the mosquito menace is maximum from June to September, however, this year the toll continues to rise even in December.

Twentyeight fresh JE cases came to light today, while 50 JE patients were still convalescing at the various hospitals.

JE patients mostly come 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 affect people till the onset of winters.

The government undertakes massive vaccination drive against the disease every year.

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