Gorakhpur (Uttar Pradesh), Aug 29 (ANI): A team of doctors deputed by the Union Government, including two from the United States, visited Gorakhpur district of Uttar Pradesh today to examine patients suffering from Encephalitis.

The team, along with the two doctors of US’’s Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, visited Gorakhpur to examine patients and study the virus that causes the disease.

The fatal vector-borne disease spreads through viral infection and has already claimed 171 lives during this season.

” From January 1, record shows that 851 people were admitted out of which 171 people have died, said Lalit Mohan, a doctor at the local BRD hospital to reporters.

Most of the patients fall in the age group of 6 months to 12 years. The death toll due to disease is rising and experts have expressed serious concern.

The disease causes inflammation of the brain. The initial symptoms of the disease are recurring fever and vomiting.

Experts feel that parents as well as the local doctors have failed to understand the seriousness of this mild fever, which can prove to be fatal.

The disease is endemic to the region and experts say that immediate measures are required to contain the virus from spreading. (ANI)