Gorakhpur: With five more children succumbing to encephalitis in eastern Uttar Pradesh, the death toll in the viral disease has climbed to 585 this year, a senior health official said on Wednesday.

Five children suffering from the disease died in the BRD Medical College hospital here yesterday, Additional Director (Health) Diwakar Prasad said.

As many as 175 encephalitis patients are undergoing treatment in BRD and other hospitals in the region, he said.