Two more encephalitis deaths at NBMC&H: Toll reaches 118

Prashant Acharya, EOI, Siliguri, 19 August 2014: North Bengal Development Department minister Gautam Deb’s assertion on Saturday that encephalitis is under control notwithstanding, the death toll continues to rise. Two more patients died on Tuesday at North Bengal Medical College and Hospital, increasing the toll to 118 in Darjeeling district alone.

Fatima Biwi (36) resident of Itahar under North Dinajpur died during the day of Acute Encephalitis, while Rinki Shah (16) of Gangapurram under South Dinajpur’s death has not been confirmed by the doctors due to encephalitis, but the family sources said that Rinki was suffering from encephalitis.

According to the health officials of NBMCH Fatima Biwi died of AES but Rinki died due to Meningitis.

Minister Deb conducted a high level meeting with Jalpaiguri district magistrate Pritha Sarkar, district chief health officer Prakash Mridha and the Jalpaiguri district hospital superintendent at the district health department conference room to discuss about the infrastructure of the Jalpaiguri hospital and the uncontrolled spread of the deadly encephalitis in the district on Saturday and had urged people not to panic as the situation is under control.

Opposition parties CPIM, BJP and the Congress party have expressed their sadness in death of over 100 people at NBMC&H from various districts of Bengal, but has also blasted chief minister Mamata Banerjee for failing to visit the hospital, even once.