Encephalitis Claims 57 Lives In Bihar

• 15 Jun 2019

Why is it in News?

Until 14 June 2019, the death toll of children due to suspected Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) in Muzaffarpur went up to 57.

Relevance of the News: AES has proved to be a major public health hazard in India.

Outbreak in Bihar:

• The death toll of children in Bihar from AES after consuming toxic lychee fruit has reached alarming levels this year.
• The fruit was found to be infested with the virus and patients showed symptoms similar to AES. Children experienced sudden drop in blood sugar levels which caused their untimely death.
• The state government has announced many emergency measures including provisioning of hospital beds for children, and six additional ambulances in affected areas.
• Previously the state government attributed the cause of death of small children to hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar levels but experts have reported that “AES is a broader aspect of hypoglycemia”.
• The government hospital in the district is suffering from shortage of beds and healthcare capacity.

Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES):

• AES, it is a neurological disorder which affects the brain and the limbic system when a specific strain of virus or a bacteria attacks the body.
• Since the disease majorly inflames the vessels in the brain, it is also known as brain fever.
• In the present outbreak, the virus from the lychee fruit entered the body and attacked the immune system as well as the brain.
• AES spreads through contaminated surfaces like contaminated water, secretions and saliva of infected persons and mosquitoes etc.
• Its symptoms include dizziness, headache, body aches, nausea, fever, fatigue, paralysis, seizures or twitching etc.
• In India children are most vulnerable to this disease due to lack of nourishment, which leads to a mismatch in the blood sugar levels and decreases their immunity as well.