Kathmandu, Aug. 7 -- At least two people died and 11 others have been infected with the Japanese encephalitis (JE) virus that has spread in nine districts of the country since January.

Of the deceased, one is a 49 years old male from ward 7 of Kanepokhari Rural Municipality in Morang district and another is a 17 years old male from ward 2 of Devtal Rural Municipality in Bara district.

Of the 11 people infected with the deadly disease, four have recovered, and the remaining seven are still receiving treatment.

Japanese encephalitis is a viral brain infection endemic to Asia and parts of the Western Pacific. According to the World Health Organisation, it is a mosquito-borne flavivirus belonging to the same family as dengue, Zika, yellow ...