Doctors of primary health centres (PHCs) in the district and those working with Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital (SKMCH) would soon directly interact on video-conferencing with encephalitis experts in health hubs across the country.

The facility would help the doctors who work as the first interface while treating patients with acute encephalitis syndrome (AES).

The AES menace affects Muzaffarpur and adjoining district affect people, particularly children, during summer. The health department has expedited measures for setting up video-conferencing facility at the PHCs and the SKMCH for the purpose. A list of encephalitis experts from across the country is also being prepared so that they can be contacted while handling complicated cases.

"The purpose is to reduce mortality caused by the AES every year," health department principal secretary Brajesh Mehrotra said.

"This move would certainly be a great help for us while treating serious AES cases," said Manoj Kumar, who works with Minapur primary health centre in the district.

Indian Academy of Paediatrics (IAP) too has expressed willingness to extend tips to doctors of Muzaffarpur and its periphery in suggesting treatment regimen for the AES cases.

IAP national president Vijay N,, in a letter sent to its members in Muzaffarpur and its adjoining districts, has requested them to take advantages of smart phones in transmitting case history and symptoms besides the pictures of affected children to the IAP headquarters in Mumbai for effective diagnosis and treatment.