National
Viral diseases stalk northern Gorkha
Multiple outbreaks of viral fever, diarrhoea and common cold have affected several villages in northern Gorkha.Sudip Kaini
Multiple outbreaks of viral fever, diarrhoea and common cold have affected several villages in northern Gorkha.
The diseases have mostly been seen in the VDCs of Lho, Bihi, Samagaun and Prok.
Officials said the outbreaks first reported over a week ago have not come under
control yet.
“A majority of the children and senior citizens have shown the symptoms of viral diseases. Some of them are in critical state,’ said Laxmi Malla, a health worker at Lho Health Post. “Up to 15 people visit the health post on a daily basis.”
In Samagaun, most of the sick people are the survivors of the last year’s earthquake who have been living in temporary shelters.
“Almost every family living in temporary huts has a sick family member. The situation is frightening,” said Tshering Dhorke Lama, a Samagaun local. Secretary
of Samagaun VDC Bed Prakash Dhakal blamed the polluted water for the
outbreak.
“The villagers are compelled to drink polluted water after the earthquake. The diseases are spreading rapidly,” he said.
Kamala Bhujel of Prok Health Post said the diseases have not yet been contained in Samagaun and Lho VDCs.
She said around 90 people are sick in Samagaun alone.
In Bihi VDC, at least 12 people in the earthquake-hit settlements are down with different diseases. The villagers complained of medicines shortage and lack of health workers.
“We don’t even have the medicines for diarrhoea,” said a health worker.
District Public Health Officer Mahendradhoj Adhikari said medical teams have already been deployed to the affected region, a five-day walk from the district headquarters.