GORAKHPUR, Dec. 1 -- After three children of the same family died on November 28 and 29 at Dolha village in Kushinagar district following high fever and breathing difficulties, preliminary test reports suggested leptospirosis was the cause of fatality and sickness in one case, officials said. The reports of the two others are awaited. The deceased included two girls aged seven and three years and a five-year-old boy. While one child died at home in Kushinagar, two others passed away at the BRD Medical College in Gorakhpur where they were shifted. The preliminary reports suggested the death of the seven-year-old girl was caused by leptospirosis. The samples were taken before death. Kushinagar chief medical officer (CMO) Dr Chandra Prakash said, "Preliminary test reports suggest leptospirosis-a bacterial infection transmitted from animals to humans through contact with urine or contaminated water-as the cause of the death and illness (in one case)." He added that the situation is now under control, with health teams conducting door-to-door visits and distributing medicines. According to officials, the first death was reported on November 28, followed by the two others on November 29. Three other children from the village fell severely ill with high fever and breathing difficulties and are currently undergoing treatment at the Community Health Centre. Three teams of physicians have been deployed round-the-clock in the affected village, while an intensive sanitation and disinfection drive has been carried out. Kushinagar CMO Dr Chandra Prakash furthser said 18 children were suffering from fever and headache, adding that their blood samples were collected on Saturday morning and the report is expected by Monday afternoon Kushinagar district magistrate Mahendra Singh Tanwar said, "Health teams, along with panchayati raj officials, have sprayed disinfectants and bleaching powder in the affected areas. Villagers have been advised to maintain proper cleanliness to prevent further spread."...