The deaths have taken place especially in malnourished children and also in poor and impoverished families
Thirty children have died this month in two hospitals in Muzaffarpur, with most of them being victims of hypoglycaemia and not acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) as being reported in the media, officials have said.
Thirty children died till Tuesday that included seven at Kejriwal hospital, Muzaffarpur and 23 at Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital, a release issued by Kamal Kumar Singh, Muzaffarpur District Public Relations Officer said.
Sanjay Kumar, Principal Secretary, Health Department told reporters in Patna, “A total of 26 children have died, 80 per cent of them were the victims of hypoglycaemia, a condition caused by very low level of blood sugar.”
He, however, refused to give district wise break-up of the 26 children’s death.
“A team led by director-in-chief, Health Services has gone to Muzaffarpur to take stock of the situation prevailing there,” said Kumar,
“Considering the gravity of the situation, a seven- member team would be visiting Muzaffarpur to take stock of the situation and also study about the disease which is taking a heavy toll on children,” added Kumar.
Participating at a function organised at the Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS) premises for laying foundation stone of a 500-bed building, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar expressed sorrow over the children’s deaths in Muzaffarpur. “I am very pained with the children’s deaths in Muzaffarpur. We are very hurt and pained. The Health Department has sent its team to Muzaffarpur which would take stock of the measures being taken to tackle the disease.”
The Health Department Principal Secretary said the disease has affected 222 blocks of 12 districts, especially Muzaffarpur, Vaishali, Sheohar and East Champaran. Asked about the reasons behind the deaths, he said the reason could be that the children may be sleeping empty stomach coupled with constant high temperature, lack of water in the body and glucose level in the blood.
“The department has ordered for distribution of ORS packets among the children so that they can take it before going to bed, he said, adding that it would maintain blood sugar level in the children. The deaths have taken place especially in malnourished children and also in poor and impoverished families,” said Kumar.
Kumar asked people to take their children to their nearest primary health centre (PHC) as all PHCs have been equipped with all the facilities.
“The department has made seven paediatric ICU functional in the state to tackle the disease. The seven functional paediatric ICU are – Darbhanga Medical College and Hospital, Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital, Muzaffarpur, Patna Medical College and Hospital, Anugrah Narayan Magadha Medical College and Hospital, Gaya, Sadar hospital, Motihari, Sadar hospital, Hajipur and Referral hospital Rajauli, Nawada,” said Kumar.
Dr Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare reviewed the status of AES/JE cases in Bihar.
Elaborating on the support being extended to the State of Bihar, Dr Vardhan said, “A multi-specialist high level team has been constituted by the Health Ministry and deployed to Bihar. The team will reach Bihar tomorrow. Experts drawn from NCDC/NVBDCP/ ICMR/AIIMS, Patna/ Child Health Division of the Health Ministry are part of the Central team and will review the surge in cases of encephalopathy/ encephalitis and to assist the State in containment/ control operations. This is in addition to a Central Team which is already stationed in Muzaffarpur. They have visited various hospitals to assess the situation and support the State government.”
The newly constituted Central Team consists of the following members:
- Dr. Ram Singh, Jt Director and In – Charge, NCDC Branch at Patna.
- Dr Saurabh Goel, Asst Director, IDSP, NCDC Delhi.
- Dr Poonam Vellamuri, Entomologist, NVBDCP.
- Dr. Lokesh Tiwari, Assoc Prof Paediatrics, AIIMS Patna.
- Dr. Arun Singh, National Advisor, RBSK, Child Health Division, MoHFW.
- Dr Krishna Pandey, Scientist F, RMRC Patna.
Currently, Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital, Muzaffarpur has 22 admitted cases of fever, hypoglycaemia and unconsciousness of which 11 cases have been admitted today. No death has not reported due to hypoglycaemia, today.
The Health Minister also said that the Health Ministry is coordinating with the Ministry of Women and Child Development for distribution of nutritious food with glucose in the meals to prevent development of AES.
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