Four claimed by mysterious disease
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Newmai News Network

Imphal, March 02 2011: The idyllic and nondescript New Wahong village located 80 km north of Ukhrul district HQ under Chingai assembly constituency has been overwhelmed by a mysterious disease which has claimed the lives of four children with many more needing emergency medical attention.

At least 8 other children are now being treated in Ukhrul district hospital.

The symptom of the disease resembles that of dysentery with excessive vomiting, said a source.

Despite the fact that the mysterious disease has claimed predominantly suckling babies, an old woman too has reportedly died with similar symptoms.

People from the village lamented that far from getting emergency medical attention the suffering has been multiplied with many children already affected and many more potentially in danger of contacting the disease.

This has been compounded by the fact that the village is isolated and the people live in abject poverty.

Majority of the villagers have no means of taking their sick children to the district HQ, let alone afford hospital and medical expenses.

On February 17, Dr Malik, medical officer in-charge of the district, had visited the village to take stock of the situation but had to return back to the district HQ without spelling out exactly what problem was.

A team of doctors comprising of the district chief medical officer Dr Ch Premchand , Dr Malik and child specialist Dr L Narendra, reportedly visited the village today the outcome of which is not yet made available to the media.

Given the gravity of the situation the disease now has begun to resemble an epidemic, president and vice president of Raphei Katamnao Long (RKL), Isaac Mashangva and Shimreingam Jelly have sounded an SOS, appealing to the state government to act promptly to counterbalance the disease before the situation gets out of control.

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