With 10 more persons succumbing to encephalitis, the death toll in the viral disease in eastern Uttar Pradesh has climbed to 488 this year, health officials said.

Ten persons suffering from the disease died in various hospitals in the region in the last four days, they said on Tuesday.

Over 280 people suffering from encephalitis are undergoing treatment at the BRD Medical College in Gorakhpur besides in some other district hospitals.

As many as 3088 patients were admitted to government hospitals in the region this year of which 488 have died, they said.