19 People Dead From Encephalitis In China

The death toll in China from encephalitis has now risen to 19 from 17. The official Xinhua news agency confirmed that the outbreak of mosquito-borne encephalitis was spreading rapidly.

Health officials in Yuncheng in Shanxi Province reported that an additional 38 infections had emerged since July 13. Encephalitis causes the inflammation of the layers covering the brain and if left untreated can be fatal. In China, health authorities are said to be working on emergency measures to stop the spread of the disease.