UP allocates Rs 10 lakh to tackle encephalitis epidemic

LUCKNOW, AUG 25: Alarmed over the spread of encephalitis in Gorakhpur, Basti and Azamgarh divisions, the Uttar Pradesh Government has allo...

LUCKNOW, AUG 25: Alarmed over the spread of encephalitis in Gorakhpur, Basti and Azamgarh divisions, the Uttar Pradesh Government has allocated Rs 10 lakh to the Gorakhpur Medical College for the treatment of those infected by the virus.

Yesterday, the state government also directed that affected patients admitted in hospitals be provided with free medicines. The Health Directorate has also been told to provide more medicines to district hospitals in Gorakhpur and Basti. The Joint Director (Malaria) has been sent to the affected divisions to report about the preventive measures being taken to halt the spread of the disease.

Health Minister Ramapati Shastri said yesterday that after receiving the news of the disease taking an epidemic form, all Chief Medical Officers of the affected areas had been told tour the region and submit situation reports. The minister said that last year till August 23, the disease had claimed the lives of about 34 persons and a further 214 persons infected by the virus had been admitted to various hospitals. This year, however, 86 encephalitis patients had been admitted to hospital so far and of these, 15 had died.

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Forty-three patients were being treated for the disease in the Gorakhpur Medical College, he said, adding that in Basti’s Opec Hospital, several patients were undergoing treatment.

Additional Director (Health) in Gorakhpur has been told to keep headquarters informed about the patients and the preventive measures being taken, Shastri said. The minister denied that the disease had spread to Bahraich. Joint Director (Health) J.S Chawala has been sent to Bahraich to see whether the people were suffering from the viral fever or the encephalitis virus, he said.