At least 17 farmers have died in the last few weeks from a mystery illness that seems to stem from contact with sheep and pigs either living or slaughtered.

"There were three or four possibilities for what the latest outbreak could be, but it would be irresponsible to speculate," says Bob Dietz, a spokesman for the World Health Organization.

Symptoms of the mystery illness include:vomiting, fever and bleeding beneath the skin, which seems to rule out bird flu.

58-people have contracted the disease although it has been ruled out that the virus is not spread human to human. It has effected people from ages 3-70.