Snowy Owl
Retired in 2010, In Memoriam
Deadly outbreak of encephalitis hits India
http://www.abc.net.au/ra/news/stories/s1800684.htm
http://www.abc.net.au/ra/news/stories/s1800684.htm
Health officials investigating an outbreak of encephalitis, are reporting the deaths of at least a hundred children in the past month in India's populous state, Uttar Pradesh.
Their deaths takes the toll this year to 372, while two thousand cases in total have been reported to health officials in the state capital, Lucknow.
Doctors are hoping colder weather may stem the tide.
Encephalitis, or brain fever, is endemic in the eastern part of the state, with the mosquito-borne virus often passed on to human beings from pigs.
The state government in May this year launched a massive immunisation drive that targeted 6.5 million children in the state of more than 180 million.
Their deaths takes the toll this year to 372, while two thousand cases in total have been reported to health officials in the state capital, Lucknow.
Doctors are hoping colder weather may stem the tide.
Encephalitis, or brain fever, is endemic in the eastern part of the state, with the mosquito-borne virus often passed on to human beings from pigs.
The state government in May this year launched a massive immunisation drive that targeted 6.5 million children in the state of more than 180 million.