More than 150 children have died from the spread of deadly encephalitis in the Indian state of Bahar, local authorities said Monday.

According to the latest official death toll, 152 children died of severe brain inflammation in the provinces of Bahar state, 131 of whom died in two hospitals in Muzaffarpur, the epicenter of the disease. At the end of the week, the toll was 118.

Faced with the gravity of the situation, the Supreme Court of India asked the government to inform her of measures taken to combat the disease, which is widespread in this region of high poverty and experiencing a high temperature.

Research studies suggest that deaths may be caused by a toxin found in lychee, which may cause the body to stop producing glucose in malnourished children and cause hypoglycemia.

Similar cases occur every year in this area between May and July, the lychee harvest that is abundant in Muzaffarpur.

Young victims in the early age show symptoms of high fever, convulsions and vomiting. In many cases, the disease may lead to death if not treated immediately.

An official at Muzaffarpur opened an investigation into the possibility of negligence by health authorities.

Sanjay Kumar, a health official in Bharar, said about 50 percent of the more than 600 children received by the hospital with encephalitis symptoms had left after treatment and most of the victims were under seven.

Research studies suggest deaths may be caused by toxic substance found in lychee fruit (Reuters)

swelling
It should be noted that encephalitis is swelling occurs in the brain, and in most cases is caused by viral infection. The risk of infection rises in the summer and rainy season, which runs from June to October.

In New Delhi, the Supreme Court ordered Bahar's government to report to it on "hygiene, hygiene, food and sanitation" in the region, the Trust of India news agency reported. Lawyers in the state of Bahar told the Supreme Court that the crisis is now under control.

More than 1,350 children have died of encephalitis over the past decade in Bahar, 355 of whom died in 2014 alone. More than 350 people, mostly children, died from a similar outbreak in the same area in 2013.