Suspected encephalitis: Toll rises to 40 in Bengal

Six more people have died of suspected encephalitis at the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital (NBMCH) here since Tuesday, taking the toll to 40 in the past 15 days, health officials said Thursday. 'Six more people have died in the past 48 hours, taking the toll to 40 in the past 15 days,' NBMCH principal Anup Kumar Roy said. More than 50 people are still undergoing treatment at the facility, he added. (Read: Health Minister gets CDC's assistance to find the root cause of encephalitis)

Roy, however, said of the 40 dead, so far only two people have been confirmed with Japanese encephalitis. Meanwhile NBMCH superintendent Amarendranath Sarkar admitted that at least 55 people have died in the hospital alone of suspected encephalitis in the past two months. Jalpaiguri Chief Medical Health Officer (CMOH) Jagannath Sarkar said 40 people have succumbed to the malady so far in the district. He said in the past two months nearly 300 people were admitted with symptoms similar to encephalitis. (Read: Bihar Encephalitis update: Death toll now at 190)

Concerned over the rising toll, a directorate of health services delegation will visit Alipurduar, Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling districts. Darjeeling CMOH Subir Bhowmik said the delegation after completing its probe will hold a high level meeting July 21. (Read: US-based Atlanta Institute may help solve Bihar mystery disease: Harsh Vardhan)

What is encephalitis?

Encephalitis is a disease that results in inflammation of the brain. The patient's central nervous system is affected. While the lesser symptoms include headaches and fevers, the more severe ones cause the onset of mental issues like seizures, confusion, disorientation, tremors and hallucinations. It can be caused due to bacterial or viral infections of the brain, injection of toxic substances or increased complications of an infectious disease.

With inputs from IANS

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