Viral deaths

TT, Siliguri, Aug. 27: Two persons died from Acute Encephalitis Syndrome at North Bengal Medical College and Hospital here in the past 48 hours, taking the Encephalitis death toll in the region since January to 174.

The two who succumbed to AES in the past two days are Saliesh Roy, 35, of Mainaguri in Jalpaiguri district and Mehemuda Khatun, 60, of Chopra in North Dinajpur.

According to NBMCH sources, 12 people are currently admitted to NBMCH with encephalitis symptoms and seven of them have tested positive for Japanese Encephalitis.

“The number of patients being admitted to NBMCH with AES and JE has declined considerably. At present, we have just 12 patients and seven of them have tested JE positive. Even the number of patients visiting the fever clinic at the outpatient department of NBMCH has come down. So, it looks like the outbreak is under control and fewer patients are getting affected by AES and JE,” a doctor at NBMCH said.

NBMCH sources also said at least 24 of the 27 departments at the medical college had submitted status reports on the attendance of doctors and medical staff members to the principal. “More show-cause notices will be issued to doctors and other staff members who remain absent for prolonged periods and receive salaries,” a source said. Last week, three doctors had been show-caused for their prolonged absence from NBMCH.