Encephalitis in Bihar: Dr Harsh Vardhan finalises Site, Design of 100 bedded PICU

'The central and state teams have finalised the site and design of 100 bedded PICU at Muzaffarpur, which will be supported under a centrally-sponsored scheme,' Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan said.

New Delhi:  After reviewing the status of AES cases of Bihar with senior officers of the Health Ministry, Union Health and Family Welfare Minister has said that the site and design of 100 bedded paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) at Muzaffarpur has been finalised.

'The central and state teams have finalised the site and design of 100 bedded PICU at Muzaffarpur, which will be supported under a centrally-sponsored scheme,' Dr Vardhan said here.

The Union Health Minister is reviewing the AES cases on a daily basis with the Health Ministry officials.

Read Also:AES Outbreak: NHRC issues notice to Union Health Ministry, Bihar Govt over increasing deaths of children

What is Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES)?

AES is a viral disease which causes mild flu-like symptoms such as high fever, convulsions and headache. It is a serious neurological illness that causes inflammation of the brain.

The Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is a major cause of AES in India (ranging from 5-35 per cent), according to the NHP.

Viruses, including herpes, influenza A, West Nile and dengue, are the some of the other causes of sporadic outbreaks of AES in India, the portal said.

However, the causes and manner of the disorder in a large number of AES cases still remain unidentified.

A study published in 2017 in The Lancet journal claimed that eating litchi fruit may be associated with acute toxic encephalopathy — the mysterious brain disease that has caused hundreds of unexplained deaths among children in recent years in Bihar.

According to the researchers, lack of food combined with toxins hypoglycin A and methylenecyclopropylglycine (MCPG) present in litchi seeds may be the cause of the illness.