KATHMANDU, July 13 (Xinhua) -- A team of Nepali doctors has developed a drug that is more effective in getting rid of typhoid fever, The Himalayan Times daily reported on Friday.

    The drug also costs less than the World Health Organization (WHO)- recommended one, according to the report.

    Doctors at the Patan Hospital in the capital Kathmandu Valley tested the drug on 390 typhoid patients at the hospital.

    The team compared the effectiveness of "Cefixime", a WHO-recommended drug for typhoid, and Gatifloxacin, a broad-spectrum antibiotic. The result showed that Gatifloxacin was more effective and cost less than Cefixime.

    Among the tested patients, fever clearance time was 102 hours for the Cefixime group and 72 hours for the Gatifloxacin group. The clinical failure was observed in 37.6 percent in the Cefixime group 3.5 percent in the Gatifloxacin group.

    The study revealed that Gatifloxacin is better than the established drug for typhoid, said Dr Buddha Basnyat, leader of the team.

    Gatifloxacin is suitable for developing countries like Nepal, he said, adding, "It is cheaper than Cefixime. While full course of Cefixime costs about 10 U.S. dollars, full course of Gatifloxacin costs one dollar."

    The researchers have proved Gatifloxacin to be more effective than Cefixime with respect to fever clearance time, said Bhupendra Bahadur Thapa, director of the Department of Drug Administration.

    "But more confirmation is needed on its safety and side effects. We are waiting for verification from international researches to register the drug."

    Typhoid fever, also called enteric fever, is an illness caused by bacterium Salmonella typhi. It is transmitted by ingestion of food or water contaminated with faeces from infected person.

    According to the report, 600,000 people die of typhoid across the world every year. The Nepal Health Research Council has approved the research.