97 die of encephalitis in Nepal

Japanese encephalitis has killed at least 97 people in Nepal since April, government health officials said Tuesday.

The majority of victims were children who died in southern Nepal close to the border with India, according to the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division. Medical teams have been sent to the area to deal with the disease, according to the AP.

In neighboring India, the death toll went up to 267 on Tuesday, health officials said. About 1,100 victims have been hospitalized with the disease in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh.

Japanese encephalitis is spread by mosquito bites that cause the brain to swell. Symptoms include high fever, followed by seizures and vomiting. If not treated immediately, it can cause death.