47 people die of Japanese encephalitis in Bengal

A total of 47 people have died of Japanese encephalitis in the last 11 days in North Bengal Medical College and Hospital, a top health official said.

"So far 47 patients have died of Japanese encephalitis in the last 11 days in the hospital. These patients coming from Siliguri and nearby districts of north Bengal were admitted with symptoms of encephalitis," Dr Amarendranath Sarkar, Superintendent of North Bengal Medical College and Hospital said. Another 36 patients have been admitted in the hospital and the condition of ten of them has been critical, he said.

There has been an outbreak of encephalitis in Jalpaiguri district. Nearly a hundred people have been suffering from encephalitis in various parts of Jalpaiguri district.

"These cases of encephalitis have been reported from various parts of the district. Most of the people are suffering from the interior areas of Nagrakata, Chamurchi, Banarhat, Moinaguri and Paharpur," Chief Medical Officer of Health of Jalpaiguri Jagannath Sarkar said on Friday.