DAILEKH: Eighteen Rautes living at Devsthan in Dailekh's Bhairikalikathum VDC have recently caught diarrhoea that broke out in the district a month ago.

According to Bimal Buda, assistant health worker, Bhairikalikathum health post, a medical team has been sent to the are where the Rautes live in. But the nomadic Rautes are divided whether or not to accept the medical treatment.

He said 70 Rautes were living in the area under the leadership of a Mukhiya. Others had deserted the settlement after the disease appeared in the tribe. As many as 107 Rautes have left the place so far. Mukhiya Main Bahadur Shahi said, "I can't leave my ailing citizens."

Health worker Buda said the arrangement of treatment for the affected tribe was satisfactory. Many of the affected are said to be recovering.

Meanwhile, the diarrhoea claimed one more life in Achham district today. According to District Public Health Office, the deceased has been identified as Basanti BK (6) of Kalika VDC-2. The death toll has reached 13 in the district till now while as many as 15,000 others have been affected.

Among the affected, condition of 10,000 people is reported to be critical. Thrity-one VDCs of the district have been affected with the disease. According to the DPHO, health workers and medicines have been dispatched to the affected areas.

The number of patients visiting the District Hospital is increasing. According to the DPHO, 20 diarrhoea patients have been visiting the hospital daily. Similarly, 20 diarrhoea patients were admitted in health posts of Siddeswor today. Additional health workers have been deployed in Siddesewor health posts, informed the DPHO.