The Centre has decided to send another high-level multi-disciplinary team to Bihar in view of Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES). The team will undertake the necessary groundwork for setting up the state-of-the-art multi-disciplinary research centre at Muzaffarpur.

Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan reviewed the situation arising out of the reported cases of AES and Japanese Encephalitis at a high-level meeting in New Delhi yesterday.

According to an official release, the research team will look into various aspects of the disease including periodicity, the cycle of disease, environmental factors and metrological data, besides other factors.  Dr Harsh Vardhan said, five virological labs will be set up in different districts in Bihar.

During his recent visit to Bihar, Dr Harsh Vardhan instructed the state government to set up a 100-bedded paediatric ICU at S K Medical College and Hospital. He said, in the adjoining districts, 10 bedded paediatric ICUs will also be set up with Centre’s support.