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. The report said that, there may be many more tribals in the district affected by this epidemic. Official sources said that additional medical teams and drugs will be rushed to cope with the alarming situation. Like all other hill districts, Tamenglong is also neglected on health-care facilities. It is reported that most of the doctors do not stay in the remote hospitals. It is alleged that most of them are staying in their homes in Imphal by sharing their salary with some corrupt personnel in the department. Similar is the case with the schools. Most of the teachers stay at home in Imphal and instead engage some local youths to teach the students by paying a fraction of their salaries. Some students’ organizations have taken strong exception to this practice and said that as long as this malpractice continues in Manipur, there cannot be quality education in the State.