A total of 140 Nepalese, mostly children, have died of Japanese encephalitis in the districts of Terai Belt of Nepal over the last few days, an official of the Ministry of Health said Thursday.

The disease has affected 847 people of 24 Terai districts, Hari Nath Acharya, spokesperson of the Ministry of Health told reporters.

Of the encephalitis cases admitted to hospitals for treatment, 35 patients died in Veri Zonal Hospital in Nepalgungj, 30 in Seti Zonal Hospital in Kailali and 19 in Tikapur Primary Health Center in Tikapur, according to Acharya.

"The number of casualty due to encephalitis could go up," Acharya said. A total of 70 persons died of the disease last year, which is transmitted by mosquitoes.

About 99 percent of fatality due to encephalitis can be prevented if children are vaccinated in time, Acharya added.

Source: Xinhua