Centre coordinating with Bihar state in tackling encephalitis: Dr. Harshvardhan

Union Health Minister Dr. Harshvardhan on Sunday said that the Central government is coordinating with the Bihar Government to tackle Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) which has claimed lives of several children in the state.

Harshvardhan, who was accompanied by Bihar Health Minister and Secretary of Union Health Ministry, said that he got to know about the deaths due to the disease during his election campaign.

He also said that his tour of Bihar has been distressing as he got to know about children's suffering first hand.

He also said that he has been in touch with the World Health Organisation (WHO), UNICEF, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and is trying to find out the reason for the outbreak of the disease.

"There is a need of well planned, organized and coordinated research. This research has to be carried out by both national and international doctors. And on basis of this research, we have to work for the better health of the children. I will send research teams monitored for the Bhagalpur and Muzaffarpur areas. I will personally monitor these teams," said Dr. Harshvardhan.

"We have also started program for encephalitis vaccine for every child in affected areas," he added.

He also informed that he will be visiting the CDC's Atlanta base and will be meeting doctors and scientists regarding cracking the AES.

Atleast 140 children in Muzaffarpur and some other areas have died due to the outbreak of the disease.