After AES Outbreak, Bihar Now Reels Under Scare of Japanese Encephalitis and Dengue

Patna, July 4: Amid the health concern that gripped Bihar with the rise of acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) deaths last month, the state now reels under the scare of Japanese Encephalitis and dengue. Reports inform that four new cases of Japanese encephalitis (JE) and dengue were detected from several places across the state. According to a report by Hindustan Times, the cases were detected at the viral research diagnostic laboratory at the Patna Medical College Hospital (PMCH) on Tuesday. The HT report further stated that the four JE cases were reported from Supaul, Saran, Bhojpur and Nalanda districts. After Bihar, Encephalitis Outbreak in Assam, 12 People Die Due to AES.

According to details by state’s health officials, six cases of dengue were reported so far at PMCH are of migrant population. These cases have triggered panic and fear of an outbreak post-monsoon season. An official was quoted in the report saying that a total of 51 JE cases in the state, with eight deaths being reported so far this year. Five of these deaths had been reported from Muzaffarpur, two from Patna and one from Bhojpur, an official said.

The health scare comes at the time when the state has been facing a surge in the Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) cases in Bihar's Muzaffarpur district which has claimed lives of 137 children in the state so far. With the onset of monsoon, the AES causes have gone down. Doctors treating the ailing kids said the outbreak of AES happened when temperature rose above 40 to 42 degrees Celsius in summer. In such a condition, the children's body temperature would shoot up and he or she may face convulsion and weakness.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 04, 2019 01:23 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).