Encephalitis kills 3 in India despite vaccination
AP
By BISWAJEET BANERJEE,Associated Press Writer - Tuesday, November 17
LUCKNOW, India – Health authorities in northern India are probing the deaths of three children and the illness of dozens of others who fell sick despite being vaccinated against Japanese encephalitis, an official said Monday.
Hundreds of children die every year from the mosquito-borne disease in Uttar Pradesh, a state of 180 million people where most public health facilities are out of reach for the overwhelmingly poor population. The disease is particularly deadly among children.
The three deaths, which occurred between August and October, were the first deaths reported after the state government started a major vaccination drive three years ago, said R.N. Singh, a doctor who works for a local aid agency.
The deaths raised a big question about the efficacy of the vaccine, he said.
Monday, November 16, 2009
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