KATHMANDU, May 14 (Xinhua) -- At least four persons have died of and over 40 are suffering from dysentery that has spread in some villages of Rautahat district in central Nepal in the past few days, The Himalayan Times reported on Monday.

    According to the daily, the entire village of Patharabugharam in the district, some 100 km south of Kathmandu, is reported to have been affected by the disease.

    Some 24 persons who are critically ill have been taken to Ghodasahan and Motihari of India for treatment, the report said.

    Birendra Karki, an official at Gaur Hospital in the district, said a team of health workers would be sent to the affected area soon.