LANDIKOTAL: The district administration and Health Department of Khyber tribal district have swung into action and taken samples of water and blood and urine from children in Paseedkhel area of Landikotal tehsil after surfacing of a mysterious disease.

Deputy Commissioner Mehmood Aslam Wazir said the doctors initially checked 250 children and found no signs of cholera. He said a medical camp has been established in the area where the doctors conduct visits on daily basis and provide free of cost medicines to patients.

The deputy commissioner said test results of water samples have arrived and shared with all relevant quarters. He said no dangerous substance was found in the water samples. However, he said, if anyone has doubts about water quality then they must consume water after boiling. He said the tests of dengue and malaria are also clear.

Mehmood Aslam said a team of doctors remains ready for any emergency situation at the District Headquarters Hospital round the clock. He said the area people have been asked to immediately bring their children to hospital if they fall ill. He said urine infection may be the cause of illness of children.

Meanwhile, Member Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Wilson Wazir and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Shermat Khan Afridi visited Landikotal Hospital and inquired after the affected children of Paseedkhel area. Medical Superintendent Dr Nek Dad Afridi gave a briefing to the visiting leaders about the state of disease which affected children of Paseedkhel. He said the affected children are being provided medical treatment.

Wilson Wazir directed the hospital staff to ensure best treatment of the affected children. He said he has contacted KP Secretary Health Imtiaz Shah for sending a team of doctors to the affected areas. He said all the affected children will get free of cost treatment.

MS Nek Dad Afridi said 55 out of 77 affected children have recovered fully and the remaining patients will also recover soon. As many as 400 people have been affected from the disease in Paseedkhel and two children also lost their lives.

District Health Officer (DHO) Dr Tariq Hayat had earlier said the ailing children show symptoms of fever and cholera.