Surkhet, June 24:

Thirty-five children have died of an unknown disease in Khin and Chaulakot VDCs in remote north-eastern region of Manma, the district headquarters Kalikot, over the last two months, the Kalikot district public health office (DPHO) said.

The children got cough in the beginning followed by fever, chest pain and finally died after profuse discharge of blood, Katak Mahat, a health worker at the DPHO said.

A mobile health team was sent to the region to bring under control the disease, which has gripped over 1,000 children there, he added.

Katak, who returned from the affected area to the district headquarters in connection with controlling the epidemic, said that although the epidemic was not brought under full control, the situation was not so serious.

Some health personnel have stayed behind and medicines left there to control the epidemic, he added.

Meanwhile, three persons died of diarrhoea at Chhapre VDC this week, the DPHO said.