Though the outbreak season is yet to commence this year, the BRD hospital has recorded 87 cases of AES and Japanese Encephalitis, of which 19 patients died. That year, BRD Hospital dean Ganesh Kumar told The Hindu, 2,240 patients of AES and JE were admitted while 512 deaths were recorded. In the Gorakhpur Division, which comprises Gorakhpur, Kushinagar, Deoria and Maharajganj districts, the Case Fatality Rate (CFR) dropped from 12.64 in 2017 to 9.70 in 2018. In 2017, the division witnessed 2,998 cases of AES of which 379 patients died, show official figures. Additional Director, Health, Gorakhpur Division Pushkar Anand said eight mini-PICUs were established since 2018 in Gorakhpur division, with round-the-clock paediatricians and equipment like ventilators, monitors, pulse oscillators and a central oxygen supply.

Source: The Hindu June 30, 2019 16:07 UTC