60 die due to encephalitis, situation alarming in West Bengal
24 of the 60 dead had fallen prey to Japanese encephalitis
Jalpaiguri, West Bengal: At least 60 people have died due to encephalitis in the seven districts of north Bengal, state's Health Services director Biswaranjan Satpathy said on Monday. The region has been affected badly by the disease and the situation is 'alarming', Mr Satpathy said.
The 60 people have died during the period between July 7 and 20, said Mr Satpathy who chaired a meeting of chief medical officers health in north Bengal on Monday. A total of 344 people have been affected by the disease, he added.
The situation had assumed 'alarming proportions' as 24 of the 60 dead had fallen prey to Japanese encephalitis, he said, adding that the North Bengal Medical College does not have facilities to test other forms of encephalitis.
Jalpaiguri district is the worst hit and Dhupguri and Moynaguri rural areas the most affected because of the large number of piggeries from where Japanese encephalitis spread.
Mr Satpathy said the number of deaths due to Japanese encephalitis is much higher this year than in 2013 when the figure was only five.
To tackle the rush of patients at the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital, two doctors have been posted round the clock at the out patients department of the fever clinic of the hospital, Mr Satpathy said adding efforts are on to open more such clinics in north Bengal, especially in Malda.