Nuwakot, July 27:

The entire Gatlang VDC-10 in Rasuwa has come in the grip of diarrhoea, the first case of which was reported 10 days ago.

The outbreak has so far claimed a youth, while hundreds have been suffering from the illness. Ward Nos 1,2,3,4,5 and 6 are in the grip of diarrhoea for the past 10 days, Rasuwa chief district officer Hari Prasad Mainali said today.

An 18-year-old youth of Gatlang died of the illness three days ago. A team of health workers comprising two physicians arrived in Gatlang today.

Although the district health office had sent a health team to the affected areas, it failed to bring the outbreak under control due to lack of medicines.

Another team of physicians comprising Dr Rajesh Chaudhary and Dr Shailendra Bir Karmacharya was dispatched with medicines today, said office assistant at the public health office Indra Bahadur Baniya. According to an assistant health worker at Syafrubesi, Manoj Singh, assistant health worker at the Dhunche health post Bishwo Ram Devkota, who was treating the patients, is also suffering from the illness.

CDO Mainali said contaminated meat, floodwaters and stale food cause the illness. At least 100 persons are suffering from the illness in Gatlang alone, while there are at least four patients in one household, Mainali said.

The district public health office said the disease has spread to Goljhung VDC. Diarrhoea cases have been reported in villages there, said office assistant Baniya.

Tamangs and marginalised groups form a majority in Gatlang and Goljhung VDCs, a four-hour walk from northern Rasuwa’s Syafrubesi.