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AP brain fever death toll crosses 200

Syed Amin Jafri in Hyderabad

The death toll due to the brain fever epidemic among children in Andhra Pradesh has crossed the 200 mark. With the death of another child on Tuesday, it has reached 201, according to government statistics.

Director of Health K S V Prasada Rao, in a health bulletin on the Japanese encephalitis (brain fever) epidemic, said that seven more cases were reported on Tuesday, raising the year's total to 963 cases. The death toll during 1998 was 201 when 524 cases were reported, according to departmental statistics.

The director said that 275 medical teams and 1,250 para-medical teams have been working in the 711 affected villages. He said 62,000 doses of JE vaccine have been distributed in the affected districts.

To contain the incidence of brain fever, the district authorities have taken several steps. The measures include segregating pigs from human habitations, ensuring better sanitation, covering open drains, clearing shrubs and drains, undertaking fogging operations to check mosquito breeding, etc. The district authorities have also launched awareness campaigns in all areas prone to the disease.

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