Two more people have died of the unknown disease that has spread in Banke district in mid- western Nepal, taking the death toll so far to 14, the National News Agency RSS reported on Tuesday.

 

According to the RSS, more than 200 people of the district across the Rapti River, some 400 km west of Kathmandu, are affected by the mystery disease.

 

Fever, shivering and falling unconscious are symptoms of the disease which could be a suspected case of malaria, Ram Bahadur Chand of the Epidemic Control Division was quoted by the RSS as saying.

 

Meanwhile, a medical team that reached the affected area is working to identify the disease and also provide medical aid to the affected.

 

The people of the region could not afford to pay for the treatment due to widespread poverty, the report said.

 

(Xinhua News Agency October 31, 2006)