Muzaffarpur, July 5: According to the latest update in the Encephalitis death toll, the figures have shot to 140.  As per the official breakup, deaths at Sri Krishna medical college Hospital are 119 and 21 at Kejriwal Hospital. Lychee and Encephalitis: What Happens When You Eat Litchi on an Empty Stomach?

AES is a viral disease that causes flu-like symptoms such as high fever, vomiting and in extreme cases, brain dysfunction, seizure, and inflammation of heart and kidney. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while speaking in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, had termed the AES deaths as "unfortunate" and "a matter of shame for the nation.

The deaths in Muzaffarpur created a panic wave across the country. The children younger than age 15, who were mostly from poor families and malnourished, had eaten litchi on an empty stomach, the reason behind their deaths wasn't directly lychee but, the kids did consume the fruit in an empty stomach. Some of the kids even hadn't had their evening meals.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 05, 2019 10:13 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).