A doctor diagnoses a child suffering from suspected encephalitis at SKMCH in Muzaffarpur. Picture by Gopi Raman

Minapur (Muzaffarpur), June 13: The residents of Minapur and Kanti blocks in the district still shudder to recollect the series of crib deaths following a “mysterious fever” in 1995.

“Over 125 children had died and we never realised what the disease was,” said Subodh Sahni, a man who had lost two of his children to the disease.

Circa 2012, the residents of various villages in Muzaffarpur have by now come to know that the disease that had plagued the district 17 years ago was acute encephalitis syndrome. But this awareness could not stop the casualty as this year’s toll has reached 75 following the death of seven more children today.

Around 145 children with symptoms of acute encephalitis syndrome are admitted to Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital (SKMCH) and Kejriwal Maternity Clinic. Although two children were discharged from (SKMCH) today, the condition of the rest has not improved. Chief medical officer-cum-civil surgeon Dr Gyan Bhushan said according to official records, 75 children have died in Muzaffarpur.

Recalling the days of 1995, Sahani said the situation was alarming in villages like Mahdehya, Chaturthi and Sarjah Pakri.

“The first casualties were reported in Subodh’s family,” said Sonelal Sahani.

“I still remember that politicians and health officials had then talked a lot about the disease and its possible causes. But they could not identify the bug,” he added.

Medical science has seen a lot of advancements since then and the policy makers and health officers have identified the disease. But on the ground, nothing has actually changed.

“We had seen the tragedy at Kothia village in 1995. We are again witnessing it now,” said Ajit Kumar, the JD(U) MLA from Kanti, who had in 1995 led a movement against the government’s failure to curb the menace. He admitted that the situation could have been better had the government been a bit more serious.

Dr Raj Kishore Sharma, who is in charge of the primary health centre of Minapur, does not disagree. “The disease has returned to Minapur with a vengeance. Several children in the village have died already and many more are suffering,” he added.

Another physician, Dr Nishendra Kinjalk, said: “The residents had apparently forgotten the 1995 tragedy. But the blighted memory is back to haunt them again. The situation in Minapur is scary now.”

SKMCH superintendent Dr G.K. Thakur said the children were most vulnerable to the viral disease. Dr Rajiv Kumar of KejriwalMaternity Clinic said the disease has returned to haunt the district because of several factors — unhygienic surroundings, mosquito menace and excessive heat.