File photo

NEW DELHI: After days of deliberations to find the cause of the encephalitis outbreak in Bihar 's Muzaffarpur district , researchers have found the cause to be of "non-infective origin", which means it is "not a virus, any bacteria, fungus or a living organism", official sources told TOI .

Researchers, including some from other countries, however, have so far failed to zero in on the exact cause of the outbreak, even as they pointed out several factors, including hypoglycemia triggered by over eating of lychee on empty stomach and malnutrition, and delay in receiving medical care. Several researchers and paediatricians are of the view that post mortem may help bring forth a concrete finding about the cause of deaths.

Meanwhile, the fatality rate has finally started declining with the Centre and state government stepping up interventions and awareness about the contributing factors. Data show fatality rate dropped to 21.3% this week from 27% last week.

Between June 1-14, the state recorded 232 new cases and 63 deaths. Since then (between June 15th to 20th ), around 320 new cases of encephalitis have been recorded, whereas deaths have come down to 55 during this period. So far (between June 1-20), a total of 552 cases and 118 deaths due to encephalitis have been registered by the state.

"As soon as rain starts, historically there is a drastic reduction in number of new cases of encephalitis. We are hopeful that the situation will improve soon," a public health expert said.

Various teams including researchers from Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), National Institute for Nutrition as well as from Atlanta's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have been working in Muzaffarpur to pin down the cause of the deadly disease. Doctors, pediatricians and epidemiological experts from New Delhi's All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Safdarjung Hospital and public health experts from WHO and UNICEF are also actively involved to determine the cause as well as provide interventions to control the incidence.

"So far, we have not been able to pinpoint the exact cause of the disease. Scientists are evaluating all possibilities but our efforts are currently focused around the contributory factors like the toxin in lychee, malnutrition and heat wave," an ICMR official said.

