Patna, Aug 9 - At least six people, including children, have died of cerebral malaria and more than 1,000 were afflicted with the disease in Bihar's Munger district, a health official said Sunday.

District health official R.N. Pandey said the deaths had taken place in Haveli Kharagpur sub-division of Munger since the last two weeks, when the infections were first reported.

He said nearly 80 villages of Haveli Kharagpur had reported cases of cerebral malaria.

Munger district is about 200 km from Patna.

However, locals in Munger claim that 30 people, including half a dozen children, have died due to cerebral malaria. Health officials have denied this.