Explained: What causes AES? What makes Bihar so vulnerable?

Most deaths due to Acute Encephalitis Syndrome in Bihar’s Muzaffarpur this year have been attributed to hypoglycaemia. Why does blood sugar drop in AES patients? What makes this region so vulnerable?

In the outbreak of acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) in Bihar, which has witnessed close to 350 cases and 103 deaths until Monday evening, most of these deaths have been attributed to hypoglycaemia, or low blood sugar. Hypoglycaemia is a commonly seen sign among patients of AES, and the link has been the subject of research over the years.