A nine-year-old boy from Dewas district in Madhya Pradesh on June 23 died of a "viral brain fever" and its symptoms were different from that of Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES), which has killed several children in Bihar, a medical officer said.

Nonetheless, the authorities have launched a survey to check the health of the children in Jamner village in Dewas district, where the deceased boy, resided, the officer said. The boy was admitted to the government-run Maharaja Yeshwantrao Hospital (MYH) on June 22 night, but his family got him discharged from the hospital on June 23 and took him away citing personal reasons, health officials said.

Thereafter, he died in route to Dewas district, they said. Talking to PTI, Indore Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO) Dr Praveen Jadia said, "It is clear from his blood and other tests that he did not die of AES, which has wreaked havoc in Bihar. These tests were conducted in the lab of Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College, Indore." 

"He was suffering from a type of viral brain fever. But its symptoms were different that of 'chamki' fever (AES)," he added. In Bihar, AES is called as 'chamki' fever. "It is being observed in Bihar that in some children residing in a particular area the sugar level in their blood dips suddenly, following which they die. But these symptoms were not found in the boy," Jadia said.

Dewas CMHO Dr Vijay Kumar Singh said a team of doctors has launched a survey in Jamner village. The population of this village is around 850, which comprises 150 children, he added. The boy belonged to a nomadic community, Dr Singh said, adding that his family had recently returned from Maharashtra. Meanwhile, the boy's uncle claimed that his nephew died in MY Hospital while undergoing treatment around 6.30 am. "After MY Hospital doctors told us that he has passed away, we took the body from the hospital and laid to rest," he added.