Encephalitis outbreak kills nine in northern West Bengal

Siliguri: Altogether nine people have died of encephalitis in northern West Bengal since May, a health official said here on Wednesday.

While six of the victims were diagnosed to have been inflicted with Acute Encephalitis Syndrome, three others fell to Japanese Encephalitis, said North Bengal Medical College and Hospital`s Vice Principal and Medical Superintendent Nirmal Bera.

Ten other patients of encephalitis are under treatment in the hospital.

Further, eight fresh positive cases of encephalitis have been reported in three districts - Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar and Darjeeling.

One of the patients is from Assam.