Experts Collect Litchi Samples in Bihar to Identify Deadly Virus

Experts on Wednesday collected samples of litchi to identify the virus strain that has claimed the lives of over 50 children in Bihar.

"We have collected samples of litchi from orchards in affected areas for toxicology study. It will help us to identify the virus strain of the disease that remains a mystery till date," said Prabhat Kumar Sinha, who is heading a six-member team from the Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences (RMRIMS).

"Now it will be known whether the disease was caused by litchi or not," Sinha told IANS over the phone. "In fact, the disease still remains a mystery," he said.

Some scientists, including Sinha, in their earlier reports had attributed the disease to litchies in Muzaffarpur district. "It is a subject for in-depth research," he said.

Vishal Nath, director of the Muzaffarpur-based National Research Centre for Litchi, said northern Bihar, including Muzaffarpur, accounts for over 62 percent of the country's total litchi production.

He said Muzaffarpur's Shahi Litchi is famous for its unique flavour and taste.

Five more children died of acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) Wednesday in Muzaffarpur district, taking the statewide death toll to 51 in the past 10 days.

Health officials said they had identified half a dozen districts where the disease has spread but the worst affected is Muzaffarpur, known for its sweet and juicy litchies.

Meanwhile, Bihar Health Minister Ramdhani Singh told reporters here that national and international scientific teams were camping in Muzaffarpur to ascertain the cause of the disease.

A team from the Atlanta-based Central Disease Control has come to the state after the centre's intervention to help control the disease.

Ramdhani Singh said the state government has already appealed to the central government for assistance. He said the doctors treating the affected children informed him that the disease has not attained an epidemic form so far.

Source: NDTV

38 Lives Lost in Bihar: No Cure for This Deadly Disease Yet

Suspected encephalitis has claimed 38 lives in Bihar's Muzaffarpur district so far this year, and more than 120 children are admitted in various hospitals after being diagnosed with the ailment.

The disease has acquired the proportions of an epidemic, and has become an annual affair, with poor children being the most vulnerable among the target groups. No treatment is available so far - a scary prospect by all standards.

At Muzaffarpur's Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital, 8-month- old Ananya presents a heart breaking sight. Doctors suspect she is suffering from encephailitis, and she is battling for her life. Cases have been reported at Muzaffarpur's Kejriwal Nursing Home too.

Her parents brought her to the hospital on Tuesday morning, after she complained of high fever and shivering. Doctors attending to the patients in the hospital's intensive care still don't know why this disease has been striking Muzaffarpur and adjoining areas for over two decades now.

So far this year, there have been 38 deaths because of suspected encephalitis. In 2013, there were 62 casualties reported from Muzaffarpur and adjoining districts.

Gorakhpur in eastern Uttar Pradesh, too, has been in the grip of encephalitis. Inspite of the best efforts of the government of India and international research organisations, no cause or cure for the disease has been found yet.

Dr Gyan Bhushan, Civil Surgeon of Muzaffarpur, says, "I have been in the field for three years. It seems that heat, and, particularly, humidity have a large role to play. When humidity levels go up, these children seem to develop severe glucose deficiency.''

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, after chairing a meeting on encephalitis in the capital today, announced a series of measures to tackle the dreaded disease, including a five-year action plan similar to the pulse polio eradication campaign, a dedicated ward for encephalitis in Muzaffarpur and dedicated surveillance systems to track its outbreak.

"I have instructed officials of Bihar and UP to take it up like an emergency. Giving 100 per cent immunisation coverage to a few districts in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh is also a must,'' he told reporters later.

Source: NDTV

Bihar seeks GI tag for its Shahi Litchi

After Madhubani paintings, Bihar's Shahi Litchi will soon get Geographical Indication (GI) tag and it would become an exclusive brand of the state in national and international market, an official said Friday.

The Bihar government took the initiative to get GI tag for Shahi Litchi grown in Muzaffarpur district and some other areas. The fruit grown in the state is sweet, juicy and larger in size.

Bihar is also planning to register Tussar silk and aromatic Katarni rice from Bhagalpur district under the provisions of the GI tag.

A GI is a name or sign used on certain products which corresponds to a specific geographical location or origin such as a town, region, or country. The use of a GI may act as a certification that the product possesses certain qualities due to its geographical origin.

The state's asset innovation council moved for getting specific tag for Bihar's Shahi Litchi.

Principal Secretary for Planning and Development Vijay Prakash said the state government has decided to get the GI tag for the fruit to help thousands of litchi growers.

"We expect the registration of the name will benefit farmers who will gain access to more markets and get better price in the country and abroad," Prakash said.

He said Shahi Litchi is likely to get the GI tag in next two to three days.

Prakash said once the Bihar government gets exclusive right to the brand name Shahi Litchi, no one else will be able to use it to market the fruit in India or abroad. Buyers anywhere would know that litchis with this name must be from Muzaffarpur.

Countries that import litchis from India are the Netherlands, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Canada, Russia and Yemen.

Vishal Nath, director of the Muzaffarpur-based National Research Centre for Litchi, said northern Bihar, including Muzaffarpur, accounts for over 62 percent of the country's total litchi production.

Nath said Shahi Litchi is famous for its unique flavour and taste.

Vijay Prakash said Madhubani paintings got the GI tag, thanks to the initiative of the state industry department. Madhubani painting was the first to get the GI tag in Bihar.

For ages, rural people, mostly women from Mithila region have developed their own tradition of art, popularly known as Madhubani paintings and named after Madhubani district. This painting tradition dates back to the 7th century A.D.

Traditionally, Madhubani paintings were made on the eve of certain rituals and ceremonies such as pujas (worships), vratas (fasts) or weddings. But in the last few decades, Madhubani paintings have been popularised by the master painters in the world.

Source: DW