Some heartbreaking pictures of the Japanese encephalitis outbreak in India

“An encephalitis outbreak has killed nearly 1,000 people _ almost all of them children _ in India and neighboring Nepal, as too few doctors struggle to care for thousands of sick children in outdated hospitals . . .

. . . Japanese encephalitis, closely related to West Nile virus, is found only in Asia, where it’s the leading cause of neurological infection. The World Health Organization says about 50,000 cases are reported annually, including 15,000 deaths, but many more go unreported . . .

. . . The disease sickens only about 1 in 250 people infected _ with children from 1 to 15 the prime prey. Most adults in affected areas have developed immunity.

The illness causes sweltering fevers, convulsions and comas, and can leave permanent damage. The WHO estimates that up to 75 percent of survivors suffer lifetime disabilities, ranging from paralysis to mental retardation to sometimes-violent behavioral problems.” (pictures via Yahoo! News)