Death of children in India put officials on alert

Moradabad, Aug 28 : As many as seven deaths of children due to mysterious fever in the last two days in a village of this Uttar Pradesh district has put the health authorities on alert.

The authorities have denied incidence of encephalitis in the village and attributed 'critical viral' fever as the cause of deaths in Bhaisia village near district headquarters.

Earlier on August 25, three children died of 'viral' fever in the same village prompting district authorities to set up a camp in the village beside sounding an alert in adjacent villages as well, the official sources said.

At least 15 other children were admitted to hospital with the same complaint of high fever and lump in throat with some symptoms of secondary infection, the sources said.

Blood samples of affected children have been sent for further investigation, health officials said.