AES outbreak: Nitish Kumar, Sushil Modi visit SKMCH in Muzaffarpur

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar along with Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi on Tuesday visited the Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital (SKMCH) in Muzaffarpur to take stock of the Acute Encephalitis Syndrome outbreak, which has claimed the lives of over 109 children.

Earlier in the day, he issued a direction to SKMCH and Kejriwal hospital, asking them to conduct an environmental study and analysis of affected areas.

He also gave a direction to convert SKMCH into a 2500-bed hospital, which currently has 610 beds.

Out of 2,500 beds, 1,500 must be arranged immediately in the 1st phase, he said.

He also said that a 'Dharamshala' will be built in Muzaffarpur for relatives and families of the children who are admitted in the hospital.

AES also called "Chamki Fever", is a viral disease, which causes mild flu-like symptoms such as high fever, convulsions and headaches.

Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan on Sunday said the Centre would set up a state-of-the-art research centre here within a year to deal with the menace of AES.