Via The Himalayan Times: Cholera epidemic looms large in Doti. Excerpt:
DIPAYAL: With authorities failing to contain the spread of large number of diarrhoea cases in Doti since mid-June, health workers today confirmed the spread to cholera saying it might soon become an epidemic if corrective measures are not taken on a war footing. Local residents have been terrified and health workers are worried as the plague could not be controlled, despite their limited resources.
The spread of disease in Durgamandau, Gajari and Ladagada VDCs continued unabatedly this week as it could not be timely controlled. Earlier, in places like Bagalek, Kalena, Dipayal Silgadi municipality, Kadama-ndau and Sanagaun VDCs where large number of patients suffered showed little signs of improvement as the diseases could not be contained till now.
Eight persons who have lost their lives in Doti were once believed to be the cases of diarrhea victims, but now it was confirmed that they died of cholera after their reports of stool tests came to public knowledge.
Senior Public Health Officer at the District Health Office, Doti Mahendra Dhowj Adhikari said that everyone should cooperate as cholera has turned a serious turn.
Abhi Subedi and Devi Kami of Bagalek-6 died of cholera on June 14. Similarly, Pittauli Saud of Bagalek-8 died on June 26.
According to Monitoring and Evaluation Officer Tekraj Ojha at District Health Office, Khintu Aauji of Kalena-4 died of epidemic on July 2.
Similarly, 16-year-old Laxmi Bhandari, student of Padam Public Higher Secondary School died on July 8. Sharada Saud (70) of Kadamandu VDC-3 and Suresh Bhul (2) of Sanagaun VDC-2 died on July 16, while Suresh’s six-month old brother Ramesh also died of diarrhoea on July 20. Health workers suspect that all might have died of cholera.
According to Kumar Pra-sad Dahal of the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division, Kathmandu, among the 17 stool tests of Doti five have been proved of cholera. All the government and non-government organisations have reached the affected areas and have been involved in awareness programme.
A team from the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division, World Health Organisation and National Health Disease Laboratory have reached the affected areas on Sunday to find out the cause of the outbreak.
