Over 70 people have died in Nepal due to viral encephalitis, commonly reffered to as brain fever, during the past one month. Majority of these deaths occured in southern parts of Nepal bordering the Indian states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. According to Nepal's department of epidemiology, Morang, Banke and Kailali are the worst affected districts. Encephalitis is caused by a virus which directly attacks the brain. Medical experts say that chances of survival are slim if immediate treatment is not given.