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| Kathmandu, Monday March 17, 2003 Chaitra 03, 2059. |
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21 die of mystery disease in Kalikot
By Tularam Pandey
KALIKOT, March 16: At least 21 people have died of an unknown
disease in this hill district of the mid-western region over the last two weeks.
Authorities said that six people have died
alone in Manma, the district headquarters, while more than 400 others, mostly children and
elders, have been affected by the killer disease in other parts.
The disease has also affected five government
employees, said officials.
"In the beginning, people suffer from
severe fever and feel dizzy," said Kashinath Banjade, Assistant Health Worker and
Chief of the District Public Health Office.
This type of disease was first detected in
Gela Village Development Committee (VDC) about two months ago when seven people lost their
lives.
According to a report prepared by the police
with the help of locals visiting the district headquarters, three people were killed in
Pakha VDC, three in Odanekoma, two in Malkot, two in Lalu, two in Kumal Gaon and one each
in Jubitha and Rupsa VDCs over the period.
Currently, there are no doctors in the
district hospital though the disease has held grip of large parts of the district.
Banjade, however, claimed that it was "ordinary common cold" that normally broke
out at the time of season change.
Bhanubhakta Sanjyal, another health worker at
Manma Health Centre, said that it was a disease that mainly infected the respiratory
system.
Acting Chief District Officer Madhav Prasad Pokharel said
that he had already instructed the District Public Health Office to dispatch teams of
medics to the affected areas along with medicines.
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