A mysterious disease that broke out in Jajarkot district two weeks ago has claimed 11 lives till Friday. It has also infected hundreds of people in the remote villages of the district. A total of 11 people died of the disease within the last two weeks. Nine of the deceased were from Painka VDC, one Accharni VDC and one from Tale Gaun VDC. The deceased is Susmita Jaisi of Archharni VDC, Bir Bahadur Rokaya, Khamba Bahadur Nepali, Kaldari Rokaya, Dhan Bahadur Rokaya, Jayarupa Upadhyay, Jayasari Rokaya, Jayasara Rokaya, Tilak Bahadur Giri, Laxmi Rokaya of Painka VDC and Kaldara Shahi of Tole Gaun VDC died of the disease. Over a thousand locals have already been infected with the disease in those VDCs. Over 300 locals are infected in Painka VDC alone, according to Tulsa Das Chaudhary, principal at Janta Higher Secondary School in Painka VDC. " "The disease that broke out during SLC examinations has claimed nine lives in Painka VDC alo"e," Chaudhary said. The disease is spreading at an alarming rate in the remote villages of Jajarkot. Sadly, the government has not taken any measure so far to control the spread of the disease. Severe headache, cough, and fever, among others, are symptoms of the disease. The disease is spreading at an alarming rate, according to school principal Chaudhary. As the disease has not been identified so far, those infected with the disease have not received the right treatment, said Dev Bahadur Basnet, a local of Achharni VDC.

Meanwhile, a team of health workers led by Dr Dipak Pun have already visited the affected villages but they could not identify the disease, according to Dhir Jung Shah, Chief of the District Health Office, Jajarkot. Shah added that the Regional Health Directorate, Surkhet has also deployed another team of experts led by Dr Chetan Wagl". "It might take three more days to identify the disease," he said. Likewise, Dr Wagle said they could not carry out sample test in the district due to lack of proper laboratory and specialist doctors. The samples have to be taken to National Public Health Laboratory, Teku in the capital, according to him.