Six more children fall prey to JE; toll at 283

Gorakhpur, Sep 23 (UNI) The vector-borne Japanese Encephalitis (JE) claimed lives of six more children today, taking the toll to 283 in eastern Uttar Pradesh.

While two children hailed from Bihar, two each belonged to Kushinagar and Gorakhpur districts of UP.

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

Official sources said 1,503 JE patients had so far reported at the Baba Raghav Das Medical College here and other district hospitals in the division, of which 283 succumbed.

Twenty eight fresh JE cases came to light today, while 50 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 distinction 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.

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