Dhangadhi, March 18:

A woman died and hundreds have fallen sick from an unknown disease that has gripped Kailashmadaun of Dadheldhura district and Jijadamadaun of Doti district since one week.

Five patients were admitted to the Seti Hospital at Dhangadhi while several dozen others were taken to Tim Hospital in Dadeldhura. Dadeldhura Chief District Officer, Dil Bahadur Ghimire, said ward nos. 2, 6 and 7 of the Kailashmadaun VDC are affected by the unknown disease.

One 32-year-old Ishwori Devi Bista of Doti district’s Jijdamadaun VDC ward no. 5 died on way to Dhangadhi’s Seti hospital today while her two sons, 11-year-old Mahadev Bista and 8-year-old Chetraj Bista, were admitted to Seti zonal hospital.

A medical team from Dadeldhura has been sent to the affected areas, said CDO Ghimire.

Authorities in the capital have also been urged to dispatch a medical team to help in controlling the disease which is affecting large number of people everyday, he added. Women and children are more affected.

Diarrhoea, swollen feet and hands are symptoms of the disease, Dr Bidhan Nidhi Poudel and Dr Hem Raj Pandey, who attended the patients, said. Most of the patients have shortage of blood and kidney failure.

People in the village said that people had eaten a wild boar some 15 days ago.

“I have no idea what disease it could be,” said Dr Poudel.