IMPHAL: Hepatitis B positive has taken the scale of an epidemic in the tribal villages of Tamenglong district. At least one teenaged girl has died and 17 others have been shifted to the hospital.

The disease was reported from Marangching and some other villages around Noney. The prevalence of the disease was noticed by a team of 10 doctors who had conducted a medical check up. The official reports said that a 18-year old girl, Abisha Gangmei, daughter of Phamnamsom Gangmei of Marangching village had died of this disease on March 18.