india

Updated: Jun 20, 2019 07:13 IST

An outbreak of Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) in Bihar claimed 15 more lives on Wednesday as the state government scrambled to stamp down on a disease that has killed 128 children as fresh cases were reported from some districts that had not been affected so far.

In Muzaffarpur, which is the epicentre of the disease that causes brain swelling and high fever followed by disorientation, seizures, coma and death — with malnourished young children the worst affected — three more children died at the Sri Krishna Medical College Hospital (SKMCH). Deaths were also reported from Bhagalpur, Banka, Sitamarhi, West Champaran and Samastipur districts. In Sitamarhi, officials said at least 15 AES-related cases were undergoing treatment at the Sitamarhi Sadar hospital.

A central team of paediatricians and paramedics arrived in Muzaffarpur late on Wednesday evening to further strengthen the management of AES cases at SKMCH.

At least five such teams have been asked to be deployed by the Centre. “The teams will strengthen the clinical care to the existing patients in the hospitals and also support surveillance of cases from the peripheral areas,” Union health minister Harsh Vardhan said in a press note.

The state government also pressed into action 10 additional ambulances in the worst-affected blocks for round-the-clock services and deployed 16 nodal officers at primary health centres in the affected blocks. The district administration also bolstered police reinforcement outside and inside SKMCH after families of ailing children on Wednesday stormed the office of superintendent Sunil Kumar Shahi to vent their anger. In Muzaffarpur, 153 AES patients are undergoing treatment at SKMCH and 24 at Kejriwal Maternity Clinic.

AES can be caused by a raft of factors, including toxins in unripe litchis — Muzaffarpur is the litchi hub of the state — viruses, bacteria, fungi, parasites, and chemical poisons. Since the first fatality was reported on June 5, the state government’s response has been roundly criticised with many experts saying Muzaffarpur’s poor health care system was overwhelmed by the scale of the outbreak, with children being treated on the floor of the hospital.

But the government said all doctors were aware of the proper course of treatment and were following it to ensure no further loss of life. “The line of treatment is clear and it is being provided as per the same. In the last two days, there is a decrease in the number of admissions,” said principal health secretary of Bihar, Sanjay Kumar. He also rebuffed reports of a scarcity of medicine. “There is no dearth of medicines and it will be ensured that if any such reports come, immediate supply will be provided.”

Seasonal outbreaks of AES are common every year in Bihar and have been recorded in Muzaffarpur since 1995. Shahi said he had strongly recommended medical research and investigation of evidence linking the illness to the consumption of litchi by malnourished children. “Litchi secretes toxin that might be causing AES. A field survey is paramount at this moment,” said the superintendent, adding that malnourished children are vulnerable to face the toxins’ effect and hence fall ill.

(With agency inputs)