The Litchi feels the heat as AES rocks Bihar in summer
Even as the scare of Chamki Bukhar aka Acute Encephalitis Syndrome rages in Bihar, litchi growers and traders face hard times with drop in sales
Bihar’s Muzaffarpur has been a hellish experience for many who have lost their life with a mysterious fever creating mayhem in the state of Bihar. With 169 lives lost to Chamki Bukhar another term for what in medical parlance is called Encephalitis, there are multiple reports on the causes and effects of the annual phenomenon. Litchi as a cause being highlighted has led to traders facing losses to the tune of 15 to 20% in terms of sales.
The outbreak has been a regular feature in Muzaffarpur and neighbouring districts since 1995, typically coinciding with the litchi season.
The disease claimed a record 150 lives in 2014. While the litchi has been given a clean chit by some, researchers continue to link the casualties to a toxic substance in the exotic fruit.
AES which leads to seizures, altered mental state and death has often been noted in litchi growing regions of Bangladesh and Vietnam.
Litchi growers who stare at major losses hint at a problem vis – a – vis excess dose of pesticides.
Reportedly pesticides containing cypermethrin have been used to keep litchi plants away from bats and other insects to nullify harm. Experts believe that use of agro-chemicals and plucking of fruits before expiry effect children who have them in orchards or homes.
While there are strict guidelines that pesticides be used in a controlled manner and remain effective for 30 days, the uncontrolled use of the pesticides has done more harm than good. The National Research Centre on Litchi has strict norms that it has laid down for its use. Frequent use is a problem say growers to the media.
Muzaffarpur is often referred to as the land of litchis, Muzaffarpur and it holds the distinction of being the biggest supplier of litchi harvest and the classiest varieties. Worst impact causing fatal brain inflammation in undernourished children is seen in kids below age 15.
Alarmingly there are also admissions that for 50 per cent of cases no one knows the triggers. And 50 per cent remain undiagnosed and untreated.
There contrarion point is litchi may not be a root cause of AES.
AES is known to strike early in the day with high fever, convulsions, disorientation, coma, seizures; signs of brain inflammation among others says a news report.
Some reports further highlight human-animal-environment interface as a concern.
Official estimates say in Muzaffarpur alone it claimed 131 lives. In Vaishali, 19 deaths were reported, followed by six in Begusarai, five in Samastipur, two each in Motihari, Patna and Bettiah, and one each in Bhagalpur and Gopalganj.
With the gravity of the situation high, the apex court has asked the Centre, Bihar and the Uttar Pradesh government to sumbit their replies in seven days after a PIL was filed.
The IMA meanwhile in its own version says reduction in body temperature with tepid sponging, increased fluid intake and adequate food intake will bring down the syndrome.
On the scientific front, the Japanese encephalitis virus is a common cause of encephalitis in India, responsible for 35% of cases.
With the media to a certain extent exposing the poor situation in terms of medical aid available to patients in Bihar and scenes of unresponsive children lying on a hospital bed going viral there has been chatter around what contributed to the death toll.
Health Minister Harsh Vardhan has been facing the music on TV, online and offline.
It would be worth noting that India has been witness to a massive outbreak of encephalitis in UP’s Gorakhpur. More than 30 children died in a span of two days at one hospital after oxygen ran out.
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