Amid rising number of child deaths in West Bengal, primarily due to acute respiratory infection (ARI), the state’s health department has cancelled leaves of all its staffers, an official said on Tuesday.

The department, in a notification, said: “All are to be present at their stations considering the present situation in the state. Fever clinics are to be kept functioning on 24X7 basis."

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had on Monday said 19 people have so far died due to ARI, including six children, who lost lives after being infected by adenovirus.

She also urged people to start using face masks again to combat the menace.

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