Each household in three wards of Ramnakot has at least one member afflicted with the disease, said Mohan Bir Kathayat, a local teacher. “All in my 18-member family are sick,” said Kathayat.

Radhika Baral Neupane, another teacher at the Khardu Janata Secondary School, said both students and teachers were unable to go to school. “Some households do not have even one person to prepare food or serve them water as everyone is sick,” she said.

Two health workers who arrived in Khardu on Monday had distributed some medicines. However, they were not to be seen on Tuesday, even though many villagers had hoped for medicine and treatment.

Locals say most of the sick are elderly people, women or children. The Chief District Officer said the District Public Health Office has been instructed to ensure adequate supply of medicines and health workers to the affected village.