Eighteen more children died of Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) in Bihar since yesterday, taking the toll due to the disease since May to 129, an official said.

48 children have died in Kejriwal hospital in Muzaffarpur, while PMCH hospital at Patna has recorded the death of 46 children till date, Additional Secretary in the Health department R P Ojha said.

24 children have fallen victim to the disease as per records of SKMCH hospital in Muzaffarpur and 11 deaths have occurred at ANMCH at Gaya, he said.

Altogether 348 children suffering with symptoms of AES were undergoing treatment at different hospitals in Bihar, he added.

Bihar Health minister Ashwani Chaube had said yesterday that a total of 111 children had died due to AES in Bihar since May.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has asked the Union Health secretary to send a Central team for tackling the disease, he had said.

The state government has decided to launch a campaign in the affected areas to create awareness against the disease and ensure treatment of the affected children.

He had also lamented the absence of a laboratory in the state for expeditiously identifying viral-related symptoms and said the government had last year requested the Centre to set up one similar to that in Pune.