Hundreds of children hospitalised for viral infection in Bengal

Reports of a few deaths have spread fear and panic in the State

Hundreds of children across several districts of north Bengal have been hospitalised with symptoms of viral infection. Reports that at least six children have died in the past few days — three in Jalpaiguri, two in Malda and one in Uttar Dinjapur — have spread fear and panic in the State.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee held a meeting on September 16 at the SSKM Hospital on the emerging health situation. State’s Health Secretary Narayan Swaroop Nigam said there was no reason to panic and most of the children were infected by Influenza B and RS (Respiratory Syncytial) Virus. He said that along with fever the children were suffering from other ailments too. The State had adequate infrastructure to deal with the situation, he said.

A team of experts has reached north Bengal and the State government is preparing a standard operating procedure for treating children with fever. Hundreds of children have been admitted in various State-run hospitals in north Bengal — 112 in Cooch Behar, 113 in Alipurduar, 92 in Jalpaiguri, 86 in Darjeeling, 196 in Malda, 92 in Dakshin Dinajpur and 64 in Uttar Dinajpur.