Muzaffarpur, June 26: District magistrate of Muzaffarpur, Santosh Kumar Mall, sought permission from the state government to conduct biopsy of brain tissue of a child who had died of the mysterious disease, on suggestions of the members of a central health team.

The team, headed by doctors from National Vector Borne Control Disease Programme (NVBDCP), Pune, National Institute of Virology, New Delhi and a senior paediatrics of Safdarganj Hospital, New Delhi, Dr IP Choudhary, was in Muzaffarpur to investigate, examine and prescribe clinical advice to overcome the mysterious disease, that had taken the lives of many children in Muzaffarpur and its adjoining areas.

Mall said a series of child deaths have been reported owing to the outbreak of the mysterious disease suspected to be encephalitis that spreads more quickly and extensively in countryside areas afflicting mainly children.

The district magistrate said he held a high-level review meet with the health officials including the medical officers of primary health centres (PHCs) to deal with the hazard as soon as possible.

Mall has constituted a five-member team of paediatrics under clinical protocol to treat the ailing children admitted to Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital (SKMCH) and Kejriwal Maternity Clinic under complete medical supervision.

The district magistrate said he has forwarded a proposal to the state government on Sunday under the Bihar State Epidemic Act to conduct biopsy of the brain tissue of a dead child, to the state government.

The Telegraph earlier reported the demand by the central team to go through the biopsy of brain tissue of a dead child, on June 23. The central team requested to go through the biopsy to help in further investigation.

However, the NVBDCP team, headed by Dr S.K. Jain had taken the blood samples and serum of the ailing children for laboratory tests in Pune.