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Encephalitis toll reaches 600; High Court seeks details

Most deaths are from eastern Uttar Pradesh where it has taken epidemic form

LUCKNOW: The deadly Japanese Encephalitis has claimed 31 lives in various parts of Uttar Pradesh in the past 24 hours, taking the toll to 600.

Expressing concern over the spread of the deadly disease, the Allahabad High Court has directed the State Government to furnish details of steps taken to prevent it. The Court recently issued directives on a letter written by a sitting Judge, which was converted into a Public Interest Litigation (PIL).

The fresh deaths were registered at various parts of the State, particularly the eastern region where the disease has taken epidemic proportions.

It included nine deaths in Gorakhpur, six in Bareilly, four in Lucknow, one in Lakhimpur Kheri and rest in other districts.

Of the total deaths, Baba Raghav Das Medical College (BRDMC), Gorakhpur, alone accounted for 444, while 59 deaths occurred at the King George's Medical University (KGMU) here, health officials told UNI.

According to official reports reaching at the State headquarters here, about 2,500 encephalitis patients had been reported since July 28 when the first case was detected. About 24 districts are in the grip of the disease, which threatens to spread to other areas as well. It has already affected eastern and central regions of the State.

The KGMU authorities are also geared up since patients from adjoining districts of Barabanki, Sultanpur, Sitapur, Rae Bareli and Hardoi are being reported everyday. -- UNI

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