Despite efforts to control the ongoing cholera outbreak in Birgunj, cases continue to rise in Parsa district, with 180 confirmed infections.

According to data released by the Birgunj Metropolitan City on Tuesday evening, 180 people have tested positive for cholera within Birgunj alone.

Of them, 11 patients are still undergoing treatment in different hospitals, while 169 have already been discharged.

Hospitals across Birgunj reported that 913 people with diarrhoeal diseases, including cholera, sought treatment by Tuesday evening.

Among them, 843 have been discharged, while 70 remain hospitalised. In addition, the number of cholera cases in Pokharia Hospital has reached 17, bringing the total for the district to 197.

Dr Uday Narayan Singh, spokesperson at Narayani Hospital, said the hospital typically treats 8-10 diarrhoeal patients daily during this season. This year, however, the numbers have surged, though free treatment continues for all patients.

Some are discharged after only an hour or two of care. Authorities are concerned about the steady rise in new cases. To prevent further spread, Birgunj Metropolitan City has closed all educational institutions for a week.

Meanwhile, tests have ruled out contamination in both tap water and deep bore water sources, leaving residents confused and anxious about the outbreak’s origin.