Taking all necessary steps to control outbreak of AES in Muzaffarpur, Bihar govt tells SC

New Delhi: The government of Bihar on Monday told the Supreme Court that it is taking all necessary steps to control the outbreak of Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) in Muzaffarpur and that the situation is “absolutely under control.” A division bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and BR Gavai was hearing a petition filed by two advocates — Manohar Pratap and Sanpreet Singh Ajmani — seeking the constitution of a team of medical experts for the treatment of children suffering from encephalitis disease.
The court while expressing serious concerns over the issue, said that “it is a matter of great concern. This (death of children) cannot go on.” The apex court also issued a notice to the Centre, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh governments asking them to file affidavits within seven days giving details of facilities pertaining to public health, nutrition, and sanitation for the treatment of children suffering from AES.
The two advocates had sought a direction to the Centre and the Bihar government to immediately arrange a 500-bed ICU (Intensive Care Unit) with required medical professionals to deal with the emergent situation.
The petitioners had also pleaded for a direction to the Bihar government to notify an “extraordinary government order” directing all private medical institutions in the affected area to admit and provide free-of-cost treatment to the patients.