Mysterious disease stalks Ukhrul village
Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network
Imphal, March 02 2011:
An idyllic and nondescript hamlet, New Wahong village located some 80 km north of Ukhrul district headquarters under Chingai Assembly Constituency, has been overwhelmed by a mysterious disease which has claimed the lives of 4 children with many more needing emergency medical attention.
The disease has claimed the lives of 4 children between the age of 6 months and 1 year in the last 2 months.
At least 8 other children have been transferred and 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 mostly claimed young babies, an old woman has reportedly died showing similar symptoms.
People from the village lamented that far from getting emergency medical attention the suffering of the people 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 are living in abject poverty.
Majority of the villagers have no means of taking their sick children to the district headquarters, let alone being able to afford hospital and medical expenses there.
On February 17 last, Dr Malik, medical officer in-charge of the district, had visited the village to take stock of the situation but had to return to the district headquarters without spelling out exactly what the situation was.
A team of doctors comprising of the district chief medical officer Ch.
Premchand , Dr Malik and a child specialist Dr L Narendra, reportedly visited the village today.
The outcome of the visit is not yet made available to the media.
Given the gravity of the situation which has begun to take the proportion of an epidemic, president and vice president of Raphei Katamnao Long (RKL), Isaac Mashangva and Shimreingam Jelly respectively have sounded an SOS, appealing the State Government to act promptly in containing the disease before the situation gets out of control and claims more lives.