Bihar's mysterious child-killer disease yet to be identified

The mysterious disease that has killed 72 children between the ages of one to 15 years in Bihar’s seven districts in the past fortnight has now been dubbed as Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) by the government. Till last year, the disease outbreak was being identified as Japanese Encephalitis (JE). JE virus is one of the many reasons for AES. The disease has been recurring in the state since 2005 and had killed 50 children last year. Authorities say the disease was reclassified because the tests conducted so far have not identified the JE pathogen. 

Pigs in Delhi found carrying Japanese encephalitis virus

Public health officials have zeroed in on the possible cause of Japanese encephalitis cases in Delhi, reported for the first time in the city in September. About 20 per cent of blood samples collected from pigs in Delhi have tested positive for Japanese encephalitis. However, since it is not clear if the pigs were local or had been imported from other states for slaughter, the whole exercise will be repeated again.  

Avian flu killing Jharkhand crows: virology institute

Deaths of crows have been reported in large numbers across Jharkhand in the past one week. Carcasses have been spotted in Jamshedpur, Bokaro, Hazaribagh and other areas. Media reports estimate the number of crow deaths to be anywhere between 500 and 1,000. Scientists at National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune have found the virus to be H5N1. It is a highly pathogenic virus that can even spread to humans.

Delhi's new public health concern—Japanese encephalitis

Delhi has been hit by a new health-scare. Japanese encephalitis, a viral disease, has been reported for the first time in the metropolis. Four people have been affected so far. The viral disease affects the central nervous system and in severe cases can cause death. As of now, the patients—one woman and three children—are stable.