Muzaffarpur, July 16: The fight against acute encephalitis syndrome in north Bihar this year, particularly in the district, has been largely successful, thanks to awareness drives and strict precautionary measures.
Doctors were able to restrict the death toll to a great extent. Fifty-eight children succumbed to the disease this year compared to 173 in 2012. So far, 104 children have been cured after being treated at Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital (SKMCH) and Kejriwal Maternity Clinic.
This year, the first case of acute encephalitis syndrome was reported on April 7. The virus so far has afflicted 162 children.
“The state government had formulated a specific line of treatment after consultation with doctors and its strict implementation helped us save the children,” said district magistrate (DM) Anupam Kumar.
He had launched an awareness drive among the people about symptoms of the disease and subsequent arrangement for treatment.
The DM said: “Teams from National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), New Delhi, National Institute of Virology, Pune and other institutions are leaving no stone unturned in investigating the virus.”
Health officials have provided blood samples and other data of the ailing kids to the investigating teams.
SKMCH superintendent Dr G.K. Thakur on Tuesday said: “At present, no one is being treated for acute encephalitis syndrome at SKMCH. Two children had been admitted a few days ago but they recovered and have been discharged.”
Thakur added: “We hope the NCDC experts would soon come up with concrete findings.”
Muzaffarpur chief medical officer Gyan Bhushan confirmed the death of 58 children this year. Bhushan said 104 kids survived after being treated successfully at SKMCH and Kejriwal Maternity Clinic.
Bhushan added that their cause had been helped by the monsoon and mass campaigns to protect children from heat and sunstroke.
“Children with suspected symptoms had been rushed to SKMCH with the help of health workers. Pulse polio immunisation personnel had also been involved to combat the disease,” he said.
The NCDC team, led by Dr Padmini, is scheduled to visit Muzaffarpur by July 20.
Milind Gore, the director of National Institute of Virology, Gorakhpur, and K.P. Kushwaha, the head of paediatric department of Gorakhpur Medical College and Hospital, who had offered their services to the state government in tackling the menace, have been requested to visit Muzaffarpur in August.
