At least 25 people have died of malaria and more than 10,000 have been affected, with the disease assuming epidemic proportions in Assam, health officials said Friday.

"A maximum alert has been sounded across Assam, and medical teams are working overtime to check a malaria epidemic in the region," a health official said. At least 15 of the fatalities were reported from eastern Assam's Karbi Anglong district during the past week.

"We have reports of malaria deaths from other parts of the state as well although the situation in Karbi Anglong district is serious," the official said. 

Experts say heavy rains in the past fortnight in Assam had led to the outbreak of malaria. Doctors say the initial symptoms of malaria are high fever and cold, and at times loose motions and stomach ache as well.

"Villagers often bring patients to hospital very late when chances of survival are very remote. There is still a great deal of ignorance about the fatal consequences of malaria," said Dhiren Nath, a local doctor in Karbi Anglong.

The northeast is a known "malaria zone" with the disease claiming an estimated 500 lives annually.

At least 2,000 health workers, including doctors and paramedics, are being rushed to malaria-prone areas to prevent the disease from spreading. 

"We have enough anti-malarial drugs, and our doctors are conducting camps to collect blood samples for tests and take remedial measures," Assam Health Minister Bhumidhar Barman said.

Health workers are cleaning swampy areas across Assam and spraying disinfectants to kill mosquitoes.