Lucknow, September 14:

The death toll from an outbreak of Japanese encephalitis in northern India neared 700 today with 21 fatalities overnight as state health officials sought more international help.

“At least 21 more persons died overnight, taking the toll to 696,” said Dr OP Singh, chief of the provincial health department of Uttar Pradesh. “We have asked for help from UNICEF and WHO,” he said. “We are in touch with officials of these two international agencies.”

Eimar Barr, deputy director of programmes for UNICEF in New Delhi, confirmed the agency has been contacted. “We are providing help with surveillance of the outbreak. We have also deployed a team of health experts,” Barr said, adding that UNICEF had already provided $26,000 to hire doctors and nurses in affected areas.