The influenza outbreak that began a week and a half ago in Bamgaun, ward 12 of Chhayanath Rara Municipality, has spread to Mugum Karmarong and Khatyad rural municipalities in Mugu.

Patients are reporting high fever, cough, headache, body aches, nausea, and vomiting, leaving many confined to their homes. The rising number of cases has created a shortage of medicine in the remote district.

At the district hospital, nearly 800 patients were treated in a week, with up to 150 visiting daily, said Dr Dipendra Jung Shahi. “Patients are mostly given medicines and sent home, not admitted. Tests have confirmed influenza, and samples are being sent to the provincial lab for further analysis,” he added.

Cases have also surged in wards 7, 8, and 9 of Mugum Karmarong. A medical team led by Dr Shahi and Dr Nahakul Shahi treated about 450 patients in the area. “The rural municipality hasn’t purchased medicines in three months. We provided medicines from our team’s stock, but many patients at home remain untreated,” he said.

The outbreak is particularly affecting children and the elderly in villages such as Papu, Magri, Maha, and Chimal. Fever cases have also risen in Soruk and Khatyad rural municipalities, according to local health worker Maniraj Budha.

According to him, fever has affected almost everyone in the village, from children to the elderly. “There is hardly a household without sick members,” he said. “Up to three people in a single household have fallen ill, but treatment has been difficult due to a shortage of medicines in the village.”

Kalika Secondary School Principal Aang Bahadur Budha said classes have been disrupted as students continue to fall ill.

He said around 80 of the school’s nearly 250 students are suffering from fever. As the number of patients rises, Mugum Karmarong Rural Municipality chair Thsering Kyapne Lama said nearly three dozen health workers have been deployed for treatment.

“With illness spreading from house to house, there is a shortage of medicines,” he said. “Despite repeated requests to the provincial and federal governments for supplies, we have been ignored.”