A special World Health Organization (WHO) team is due here shortly to assist Sri Lankan specialists trying to combat a mystery illness which has hit the Badulla and Moneragala areas, the official Daily News reported Monday.

The disease which bears symptoms of chest pains, breathlessness and accelerated heartbeat is believed to have so far afflicted 184persons in the region with 64 confirmed cases.

The Health Ministry in the meantime has requested the public not to panic, saying all precautions have been taken to combat the disease suspected to be "myocarditis" which was spreading in the Badulla and Moneragala districts.

"On a directive of Healthcare and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva, we have taken all possible steps to control and prevent the disease from spreading," a senior Health Ministry official told the Daily News.

However, health authorities are yet to confirm the cause and other reasons leading to the disease.

"A special WHO team will be arriving in Sri Lanka shortly to assess the situation here and assist in medical research. This team will comprise doctors, virologists, epidemiologists etc," WHO's Representative in Sri Lanka Dr. Kan Tun said.

Source: Xinhua