148 kids affected with acute encephalitis across India; 59 dead

NEW DELHI: India has reported as many as 148 cases of Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) and 59 deaths among children under 15 years of age till July 31, health officials said on Thursday.

These cases of AES have been reported from Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra since June.

Apart from AES, the Chandipura virus (CHPV) outbreak is also being reported in the country, especially in Gujarat and adjoining areas. So far, 51 cases of Chandipura virus have been reported till July 31, health officials added.

Officials added that of the 148 AES cases, 140 are from 24 districts of Gujarat, four are from Madhya Pradesh, three are from Rajasthan, and one is from Maharashtra.

Officials said that since July 19, India has been reporting a declining trend of the daily reported new cases of AES. AES refers to an acute onset of fever and clinical neurological manifestations that include mental confusion, disorientation, delirium, or coma, which may occur because of infectious or non-infectious causes.