Mystery death toll rises to 40 in Bihar

The number of deaths in Bihar due to suspected encephalitis touched 40 with four more children falling prey to the disease in the past 24 hours in Muzaffarpur’s KD Kejriwal Maternity Hospital (KDKMH). Over a dozen children out of 45 undergoing treatment at hospitals in Muzaffarpur and Patna are stated to be critical.

Teams of doctors from New Delhi and NIV, Pune, on Friday collected over a dozen more blood and cerebral spinal fluid samples. Meanwhile, doctors have been offering a mix of anti-viral, antibiotics and anti-convulsion treatment. Test reports of 20 samples are awaited from NIV and Rajendra Memorial Research Institute, Patna.

KDKMH is treating the maximum number of patients — 24 — with the suspected disease. Besides, five children have been referred to Patna Medical College and Hospital.

Dr Rajiv Kumar of KDKMH said, “As long as mercury continues to shoot up, we will continue to get patients with the suspected disease.”