Encephalitis claims nine more lives in eastern Uttar Pradesh

Nine more persons have succumbed to encephalitis in Gorakhpur, taking the death toll in the viral disease in Uttar Pradesh's eastern region to 293 this year.

Health official said here today that seven persons died at the BRD Medical College Hospital here, while one each succumbed in the district hospitals of Gorakhpur and Kushinagar since yesterday.

Additional director (health) UK Srivastava said of the total 293 deaths this year, 273 died in BRD MCH while the remaining died in other government hospitals of the region - Gorakhpur, Siddharthnagar, Kushinagar, Maharajganj, Basti and Deoria districts.

As many as 308 patients are presently undergoing treatment at the BRD MCH and various government hospitals of the region, he said.