JAJRKOT: At least six persons died and an estimated 100 fell ill following the outbreak of an ‘unknown disease’ in Bhagwoti VDC of Jajarkot district, since the past one week. The disease outbreak coincides with the Dashain vacation, where health workers are packing off home. Devilal Shahi, 45, Dhanne Pariyar, 55, and four unidentified kids of Kamda in Bhagwoti VDC-6 are among those killed by the disease.

Tej Bahadur BK, a local resident, said more than 100 villagers have fallen ill.

The patients at first complained leg muscle cramp, followed by eyes and ear drums’ pain. The disease first gripped ward numbers 6, 7 and 8 of the VDC and is beginning to spread to other wards, BK said, warning that many more lives could be lost if no prophylactic measures were taken immediately. The VDC is also suffering from the dearth of medicines in the health posts. Finding that health workers are gone home, panick-stricken people are now visiting faith doctors and applying local healing.

Meanwhile, acting district health officer Rajendra Bahadur Sah said he was unaware of the disease. A team of health workers would be sent, soon, he added.