Virus ruled out in child deaths

TT, Malda, April 26: The Pune-based National Institute of Virology has found no known virus in the blood samples of children who died of Acute Encephalopathy Syndrome in the past two years in the district.

Dilip Mondal, the chief medical officer of health, Malda, said today the NIV had also reconfirmed the state health department's findings that because of the consumption of litchi, the blood sugar levels of the children with AES had come down considerably.

In 2014 and 2015, 120 children were detected with AES in Malda district and 42 of them died. A team from the NIV visited Malda in 2014 and 2015 and collected blood samples of the children.

"They did not find the presence of any known virus which would have led to the death of the children. They have, however, reconfirmed our findings that because of the consumption of litchi, the blood sugar levels of these children had come down considerably," Mondal said.

"Most of these children were from five blocks in the district with litchi plantations. Litchi is usually harvested during the summer and there were reports that children who fell to AES and lost their lives had litchi," he said.

The five blocks where litchi is cultivated are Kaliachak-I, II and III, Manikchak and Englishbazar.

After the children's deaths from AES, the state health department carried out a thorough investigation and the sugar level drop was revealed.

"We will launch an awareness campaign. A two-page leaflet will be distributed among people mentioning that children should not be allowed to have litchi in empty stomach. In case any child falls ill or becomes unconscious, he/she should be provided with glucose immediately to balance their sugar level," the CMOH said.

"Further, parents would be advised to take their children to the nearest health centre," he added.

"We had adopted this style of treatment in 2015 and could reduce the number of child deaths. This year, seven children have been diagnosed with AES so far but there has been no deaths," the district health official said.