Encephalitis claims first victim in Bihar this year

Patna: A child has died due to the deadly mosquito-borne disease Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) in Bihar's Muzaffarpur district - the first in the state this year, an official said on Saturday.

"So far one child has died at the Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital due to AES in the district," said Muzaffarpur civil surgeon Gayan Bhusan.

According to him, three children have been admitted in the hospital with AES symptoms.

The AES is a severe case of encephalitis characterised by inflammation of the brain. Mosquitoes transmit the infection causing high fever among children.

"Every year, encephalitis hits Muzaffarpur and other neighbouring districts in May or June. But this year it seems to have hit a little early," a health department official here said.

In the last few years, hundreds of children have died due to this disease, mainly in Muzaffarpur and Gaya districts.