Muzaffarpur: District magistrate Dharmendra Kumar on Wednesday directed officials to set the healthcare machinery in order before summer when suspected acute encephalitis cases are reported here.

Every summer, children in north Bihar, and especially Muzaffarpur, are afflicted with the condition. In a preventive measure, Dharmendra held a high-level meeting on Wednesday and asked officials to concentrate on intensive awareness programmes.

He told The Telegraph: "Preparations have begun to fulfil the requisite need for medicine and apparatus to diagnose symptoms of the disease. Separate wards have been created in the hospitals to treat ailing children. The chief medical officer has also been asked to create wards in the primary health centres. Anganwadi workers and swastha mitras would be educated to guide the rural population on preventive measures."

Total 330 villages have been identified as vulnerable to acute encephalitis syndrome cases this year. Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital superintendent G.K. Thakur said: "The health team is equipped to tackle the cases and necessary arrangements are being made in the onset of summer."

Besides, a National Centre for Disease Control team monitoring the encephalitis outbreak is expected to arrive by March 15.