Patients infected with H1N1, commonly known as the swine flu virus, have been deprived of treatment at Narahi-6 and 7 in Bara district for the past three weeks.

Though the medicines were brought by a helicopter from the Capital on Saturday, they are yet to be dispatched to the affected areas.

The patients are taking any medicine at their disposal in the lack of proper prescription and doctors. Locals claimed that 65-year-old Mahendra Pandit, who was seriously affected by flu, died last week after consuming a wrong medicine.

There is no Auxiliary Health Worker at the health post. Chief of the District Public Health Office (DPHO) Harish Chandra Sah said the medicines had not been taken to the affected area due to the banda. Shankar Gupta, an official at the DPHO, said they would dispatch teams with medicines within a day or two. At least 175 households are suspected to have been affected by the flu in the village. Surendra Sah, a local activist, said the disease had affected children, senior citizens and postpartum women mostly.

According to the Teku-based National Public Health Laboratory, the virus was detected in 12 of the total 16 blood samples tested earlier this week.

Banda in Tarai affects immunisation

BARA: The ongoing Madhes protest has affected immunisation in the various health centres in the district of Bara. Jitan Chaudhary of the DPHO said they were unable to provide vaccines in 19 VDCs. The DPHO had planned to vaccinate children under one year and pregnant women from September 3 to 7 in the district.