UP: 5 more die of encephalitis; toll 445

Five more children succumbed to encephalitis in Gorapkhpur, taking the death toll in Uttar Pradesh's eastern region due to the viral infection to 445 this year, health officials said on Friday.

All the five deaths took place at the BRD Medical College Hospital in Gorakhpur.

Diwakar Prasad, additional director, health, Gorakhpur division, said the total encephalitis admissions rose to 2,935 since January this year, out of which 445 succumbed to the deadly disease.

"There are 34 new admissions in the past 24 hours at BRD-MCH. As many as 219 encephalitis patients are being treated at BRD-MCH and the adjoining district hospitals," Prasad said.