KATHMANDU, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- Encephalitis has claimed at least 41 lives in the east of Nepal, local newspaper The Rising Nepal reported Tuesday.

    District public health office of Sunsari district, some 220 km east of capital Kathmandu, informed that 270,000 were inoculated against the disease. Despite the public awareness campaigns, impact has not been reduced, the official said.

    According to B.P. Koirala Health Science Academy the death rate has been increased by two fold this year.

    Medical Department Chief Prahlad Karki said 20 percent of the people who were hospitalized at the hospital died. 

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