‘14% of AES patients in Bengal died’

Govt. report says 275 people succumbed to disease in 2016

Nearly 14% of the patients admitted with Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) in West Bengal in 2016 have died, according to a health report released by the State government.

The total number of AES cases reported in 2016 were 2004, out of which 275 (13.72%) patients succumbed to the disease, the report said.

Five districts of North Bengal accounted for 50.18% of the deaths.

These districts are Alipurduar (38 deaths), Jalpaiguri (20), Uttar Dinajpur (42), Cooch Behar (18) and Darjeeling (20). In two districts in south Bengal — Bankura and Purulia — at least 24 persons have died, the report said.

The five districts located in North Bengal accounted for 29.74% of the registered cases. Other districts in the State with significant number of deaths are Bardhaman (17), Birbhum (16) and North 24 Paraganas (24). They account for 19.63% of deaths collectively.

According to the Directorate of National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme, the number of AES cases registered in Assam till August 8 has been pegged at 1,534. Out of this, 128 (8.34%) patients have died.