Five die of encephalitis

Nepalgunj, September 8:

Five more Japanese Encephalitis patients died today in Banke and Dang districts. Simana Pariyar (15) of Surkhet, Rupkali Sunar (10) of Banke, Tulshiram Tharu (62) of Dang and Samita Chaudhary (13) of Banke died today while undergoing treatment at the Bheri Hospital.

Bir Bahadur Chalaune, 10, died of the disease while undergoing treatment at the Mahendra Hospital, Dang. Over 150 persons suffering from the disease are undergoing treatment at the Nepalgunj based Bheri Zonal Hospital.

The patients at the zonal hospital are facing hardships due to lack of beds and adequate medicines. If medicines are not provided on time the disease will assume epidemic proportions, Dr Ramesh Shrestha of the hospital, said. A meeting was held here under the chairmanship of Banke Chief District Officer Binod Kumar Adhikari to discuss possible ways to control the disease spread.