Dozens of children have died from acute encephalitis in the past 10 days, say health officialsAt least 31 children in India killed by toxin in lycheesAt least 31 children have died in northern India in the past 10 days from a brain disease believed to be linked to a toxic substance found in lychee fruit, health officials have said. The deaths were reported by two hospitals in Muzaffarpur in Bihar state, famed for it lush lychee orchards, officials said. The children all showed symptoms of acute encephalitis syndrome (AES), senior health official Ashok Kumar Singh said, adding most had suffered a sudden loss of glucose in their blood. At least 40 other children complaining of similar symptoms were being treated at intensive care units. In 2015, US researchers had said the brain disease could be linked to a toxic substance found in the exotic fruit.

Source: The Guardian June 13, 2019 03:00 UTC