More than one hundred and fifty children were killed by brain fever in India this year, and one hundred and thirty-one of these children were from Muzaffarpur district alone.

Reports also say the illness known locally as Chamki Bukhar, affects the central nervous system of its patient.

With the number of children in Muzaffarpur district dying due to the escalating spread of this fever, the crisis has exposed India’s dilapidated health sector.

A similar outbreak in the district killed three hundred and fifty children, raising questions on why the authorities had not done more to combat the disease.

On Monday this week India’s Supreme Court ordered an investigation into the deaths, and issued a notice to both the Bihar and federal governments, accusing them of negligence.

Hospitals in Muzaffarpur and elsewhere in Bihar, are feeling an acute shortage of doctors and nursing staff, as well as the unavailability of medicines or beds for patients.