In Uttar Pradesh, the death toll due to encephalitis or brain fever has mounted to 259 this year as four more patients have succumbed to the virus-borne disease during the past 3 days. The dead include mostly children below 14 years of age.AIR Gorakhpur correspondent quoting official sources says that this year, 1788 patients of brain fever have been admitted to different government hospitals of Gorakhpur and Basti division. As many as 267 patients are still undergoing treatment in these hospitals.’Despite three rounds of vaccination for Japanese Encephalitis the disease continues unabated in the Himalayan foothills of Uttar Pradesh. Of total 2000 patients of encephalitis detected this year around ten percent have been tested positive for Japanese Encephalitis. In BRD Medical College hospital here, two-three children are being treated on a single bed due to resource crunch.The Director General Health has reviewed the situation in Gorakhpur and Kushinagar on Sunday where the number of patients is higher. Experts say that the cases are mostly of water-borne encephalitis that occurs due to use of contaminated water. Several voluntary organisations are working to create awareness among the masses about the cleanliness and hygiene.