Nineteen infants die from mystery disease in India

CALCUTTA - A mysterious disease in eastern India has killed 19 children aged five and below and affected at least 100 others, officials said on Saturday.

The disease, which has struck eight remote villages in West Bengal state over a period of nine days, results in high fever, respiratory distress and convulsions, district officials said.

"I cannot say now whether the toll will remain at 19," Murshidabad District Magistrate Manoj Pant told Reuters by phone.

"Medical teams and specialists are at the affected areas and are taking blood samples of the sick children and examining them to get a better idea of the disease."

He said the toll included the deaths of ten children which officials had reported late on Friday.

Residents said there was panic among parents --- mostly poor peasants --- and many were gathered around hospitals where their children were admitted.

- REUTERS