More children die of Japanese encephalitis in Uttar Pradesh, India

The on-going epidemic of Japanese encephalitis (JE) in this area has claimed the lives of 3 more children, bringing the total number of deaths to 332 since the start of the outbreak. As many as 1,942 cases of Japanese encephalitis were detected during the current monsoon season, when the virus spreads.

The districts most affected by the disease have been Gorakhpur, Kushinagar, Deoria, Maharajganj, Sant Kabir Nagar, Basti, and Siddharth Nagar.

Travellers should be aware of the risk of exposure to JE and take all necessary precautions to avoid mosquito bites. Vaccination against JE prior to travelling to this area is recommended.