Janakalyan Secondary School in Bihadi Rural Municipality Ward No. 1, Parbat, has closed the school for two days—Tuesday and Wednesday—after a viral fever outbreak in the area.

More than 150 students and teachers of the school were taken ill due to viral fever a few days ago, according to Khem Koirala, the in-charge of Bachha Health Post.

“We have been providing treatment in the open because of the sheer number of patients visiting the health post. Some critically ill patients have been referred to the District Hospital and hospitals in Pokhara,” said Koirala.

Jhalak Chapagain, a teacher at the school, said that the number of patients suffering from viral fever is on the rise in Durlang Village, where the school is located.

“There are patients of viral fever in every household, and the school has been closed to prevent further spread of the disease,” said Chapagain.

Shiva Prasad Shrestha, the acting headmaster of the school, said that the school might remain closed for a few more days.

“We may not run classes until the viral fever comes under control,” said Shrestha.

Due to seasonal changes, health workers are seeing an increase in viral fever patients in various health facilities of the district. According to them, the patients are showing symptoms of high fever, headache, eye-related problems and infections in various body parts.

Janaki Kumari Rijal, the information officer of the District Hospital, said that the majority of people in the outpatient department are suffering from viral fever.

“The hospital usually receives 60 to 70 patients daily, but after the viral fever outbreak, we have been providing treatment to more than 150 patients in a day,” said Rijal.

According to Dr Sheshkant Lamichhane, the district hospital is packed with patients of viral fever from morning till noon.

School closed in Shadananda Municipality, Bhojpur

BHOJPUR: Arun Secondary School in Shadananda Municipality has been closed after 202 students were taken ill due to viral fever. Shree Krishna Bogati, the acting headmaster of the school, said that the school would be closed for a few days from Tuesday onwards. “Viral fever has affected children in Shadananda Secondary School, New Summit Boarding School and Sunrise Boarding School,” said Bogati, adding that the locals have also started to show symptoms of viral fever. Sundar Shrestha, the health coordinator of the municipality, said that the number of patients in the municipality’s health facilities has increased of late.