Odisha Health Minister Naba Kishore Das orders litchi tests following Bihar Encephalitis deaths

Following the outbreak of Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) in Bihar which claimed the lives of more than 100 children, Odisha Health Minister Naba Kishore Das ordered laboratory test of litchi fruit being sold in the markets in the state to ascertain toxic content in the fruit.

The government's action came after reports that litchi consumption was one of the factors behind the spread of AES. Bihar's Muzaffarpur district was one of the litchi growing areas in the state where more than 100 children have died so far due to acute encephalitis syndrome (AES).

ACCESSED: As Encephalitis Death Toll In Bihar Touches 135, Here's The 2014 Report Which Had Listed Steps Taken By Centre & Bihar Governments To Control, Prevent And Tackle Such A Catastrophe

The direction for the laboratory test of litchi was issued by state Health and Family Welfare minister Naba Das."The minister has asked the Food Safety Commissioner to collect and test samples of litchi being sold in the market," an official at the minister's office said.

The minister has further directed that the litchi collected from market should undergo laboratory test to ascertain the toxic content keeping in view its negative impact on human health.

LATEST SHOCKER: Vaishali Doctor Blames Litchis Yet Again As Encephalitis Death Toll In Bihar Reaches 130

Earlier, Bihar Health Minister Mangal Pandey had said a team that was formed to ascertain the cause of Encephalitis concluded that sleeping on an empty stomach at night, dehydration due to humidity and eating litchi on an empty stomach were some of the causes of the disease.Encephalitis is a viral disease, which causes mild flu-like symptoms such as high fever, convulsions, and headache.

In 2016 tribal dominated Malkangiri district of Odisha had reported 90 children death due to AES, Health department sources said.The directive has come in the wake of reports that encephalitis is spreading in litchi growing areas of Bihar, including Muzaffarpur district and other parts of the country and that consumption of the fruit was among the factors for the spread of the disease.