The latest outbreak of Japanese encephalitis, which has gripped in mid-eastern Nepal, claimed the lives of three more persons, Radio Nepal reported Saturday.

Those succumbed to the disease were in Dang district, some 400 km west of Kathmandu, according to the state-run radio.

The number of persons claimed by encephalitis in Bheri Zone of mid-western Nepal so far has reached 76.

Of the total 463 encephalitis patients admitted at the Bheri Zonal Hospital, Kohalpur Hospital and Nepalgunj Hospital for treatment, 76 have died, 248 have returned home after recovery and 139 are undergoing treatment.

The hospitals are providing free treatment service to the encephalitis patients from Banke, Bardiya, Dang, Salyan, and other districts, and majority of the victims are said to be children below 14 years of age, the radio added.

The patients at the zonal hospital are facing hardships due to lack of beds and adequate medicines. "If medicines are not provided on time the disease will assume epidemic proportions," Ramesh Shrestha, doctor of the Bheri Zonal hospital, said.

Likewise, at least 15 typhoid patients are reportedly arriving at Lami primary Health Center of Dang district, everyday.

Source: Xinhua