A child being treated at ANMMCH in Gaya on Wednesday. Picture by Suman

Gaya, Sept. 7: Fear of Japanese encephalitis has returned to haunt the people in the district, barely two months after it claimed over 50 lives in Muzaffarpur and its adjoining districts.

Eleven persons have lost their lives in the district so far, since the first case of acute encephalitis syndrome was reported at Anugrah Narayan Magadh Medical College and Hospital (ANMMCH) on August 23. However, it is yet to be established if all the deaths were a result of Japanese encephalitis.

“So far, 44 children suffering from the syndrome have been admitted to the ANMMCH, out of which seven have been detected as confirmed cases of Japanese encephalitis,” ANMMCH superintendent Sitaram Prasad told The Telegraph.

He said tests have been conducted at the laboratory of the microbiology department of the medical college. “Following primary confirmation of the disease at the laboratory here, the samples are being sent to Patna or Delhi,” the superintendent said.

All 44 cases of acute encephalitis syndrome have been admitted to the paediatrics department of ANMMCH, which has a capacity of 50 beds. On September 2, a maximum number of 10 patients were admitted to the hospital.

The hospital superintendent said more beds would be arranged in other departments if it were necessary. He added that at present all facilities, including medicines and pathological tests, are being made available to the patients.

Principal secretary of the health department Amarjeet Sinha said he was keeping a close watch on the situation. Sinha called up the superintendent today and assured to make available four senior resident doctors at ANMMCH on deputation. Two senior resident doctors are likely to arrive at ANMMCH on Thursday.

The principal secretary is likely to visit ANMMCH tomorrow. At present, 10 doctors, including two additional postings made by the Gaya civil surgeon Dilip Kumar, are treating the children at ANMMCH.

A four-member team of kala azar specialist doctors from Patna, led by Dr Bisheshwar Prasad, also arrived at ANMMCH today and visited the paediatrics ward where the children have been admitted. As of now, the doctors have advised to keep mosquitoes away as a preventive measure.