22 children die of mystery disease in Bihar
At least 22 children below the age of six years have died and 35 others hospitalised due to a mystery disease during the past one week in Bihar's Muzaffarpur district, officials said.
While four children died at the Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital (SKMCH), three others died at Kejriwal hospital in Muzaffarpur town, they said.
SKMCH Paediatrician Dr Braj Mohan confirmed the death of four children at the hospital since yesterday.
"While four children have died since yesterday, 20 others are still being treated at the hospital," he said.
Superintendent of Kejriwal hospital Dr Bibi Giri said three children below the age of six years died due to suspected encephalitis at the hospital during the past 24 hours and 15 others have been admitted for treatment.
The state health department has sent a team of experts from Patna to the district. The team had already collected the blood samples and returned to the state capital, Principal secretary (health), Amarjeet Sinha said.
The blood samples were sent to a specialised laboratory in Pune for examination, he added.
