Gaya, Nov. 14: The number of cases of suspected encephalitis being reported at Anugrah Narayan Magadh Medical College and Hospital (ANMMCH) is once again on the rise after a declining trend in the last week of October.

ANMMCH registered five new cases last Saturday, taking the total number of children admitted to the hospital to 377 since the first case was admitted to the healthcare facility on August 23 this year.

In the 83 days since, a total of 81 children have died at ANMMCH of suspected encephalitis, implying one death everyday on an average. The last death from suspected encephalitis was reported last Friday. A total of 32 children were occupying beds at the ANMMCH’s paediatrics department till reports last came in. Of 377 children admitted to the hospital, 231 have been discharged after successful treatment, while two were referred to Patna Medical College and Hospital and 31 left the hospital without intimation.

ANMMCH superintendent Sitaram Prasad said: “Doctors are providing the best possible treatment to the patients. That is why the mortality rate at ANMMCH is only 21 per cent, which is much less than the normal average between 40 and 50 per cent.” Sources said suspected encephalitis claimed 29, 49 and 46 lives in 2007, 2008 and 2009 respectively. Adequate efforts are not being made to completely eradicate the disease. In September this year, when around 10 to 12 cases of suspected encephalitis were being admitted to ANMMCH on an average fogging had been started in the villages.

Special vaccination and fogging drives had also been launched in villages that reported cases of suspected encephalitis. However, all these efforts were discontinued thereafter. There is a shortage of vaccines to carry out the special immunisation drive. On the other hand, funds are not available to ensure fogging in the villages.

According to the district immunisation officer, Surendra Chaudhary, vaccination for encephalitis has been included in the routine drive. But under the routine immunisation, only children between 16 and 24 months can be immunised.

On the other hand, children up to the age group of 15 years are most affected by suspected encephalitis. According to a suggestion of World Health Organisation (WHO), effective immunisation can only help contain suspected encephalitis in the country.

The head of ANMMCH paediatrics department, Ajay Kishore Ravi, told The Telegraph that according to the WHO’s suggestions, he too had requested health department principal secretary Amarjeet Kumar Sinha and secretary Sanjay Kumar during their visit to ANMMCH for a round of vaccination.

The first dose of the vaccine should be administered in the last week of April followed by the second in the first week of June and the third dose after a year.

By the time encephalitis breaks out after monsoon, the children will develop immunity to fight against the virus.