Three more children die in Bihar; Encephalitis toll touches 118

Muzaffarpur (Bihar): Three more children suffering from Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) have died here since Wednesday evening, taking the total number of deaths caused due to the outbreak to 118, the district administration said Thursday.

While two deaths were reported from the SKMCH hospital - raising the toll at the government healthcare facility to 97 - another child died at privately-owned Kejriwal hospital, where the total number of casualties has reached 20.

One death was reported from East Champaran district two days ago.

The total number of AES cases registered since June 1 was 398 at the SKMCH and 154 at Kejriwal hospital, according to figures provided by the district administration.

Uttar Pradesh-based paediatrician Kafeel Khan, who was suspended last year following the deaths of a large number of Japanese encephalitis-afflicted children at a hospital in Gorakhpur, has landed at the north Bihar town to lend a helping hand.

The doctor, who has been running a "health for all" campaign after being released on bail by the Allahabad High Court, has set up a camp in the town's Damodarpur locality to offer free medical care to patients.

His twitter feed is also abuzz with videos aimed at spreading awareness about the symptoms of brain fever.