Minor dies of encephalitis in Gorakhpur, toll 129

As many as 11 patients, suffering from suspected encephalitis, were admitted to the hospital during past 24 hours, a senior health official said.

A total of 658 encephalitis patients were admitted in different government hospitals of Gorakhpur and Basti division this year, of which 129 died, officials said.

The cases have been coming from seven districts of Gorakhpur-Basti divisions, Bihar and Nepal.

At least 90 per cent of the cases were reported to be of acute encephalitis syndrome which is caused by the viruses present in contaminated water, while rest 10 per cent cases were of Japanease Encephalitis caused by mosquito bite, additional director health, Diwakar Prasad said.