Mystery disease kills 22 children in Bihar

At least 22 children below the age of six years have died and 35 others hospitalised due to a mystery disease during the past one week in Bihar's Muzaffarpur district, official sources said.

While four children died at the Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital (SKMCH), three others died at Kejriwal hospital in Muzaffarpur town, the sources said.

SKMCH Paediatrician Dr Braj Mohan confirmed the death of four children at the hospital since yesterday.

Twenty other children were still being treated at the hospital till date, Braj Mohan said.

Superintendent of Kejriwal hospital Dr Bibi Giri said three children below the age of six years due to suspected encephalitis at the hospital during the past 24 hours.

He said 15 others were still admitted for treatment at the Kejriwal hospital.

State health department have sent a team of experts from Regional Malaria Research Institute ((RMRI)led by Dr Krishna Pandey from Patna. The team had already collected the blood samples and returned to Patna, principal secretary (health), Amarjeet Sinha said.

The blood samples were sent to a specialised laboratory in Pune for examination and obtaining report to diagnose the disease children suffer in Muzaffarpur.