Flood victims have started falling sick due to viral fever in Jhapa Rural Municipality of Jhapa district. 

Health officials said viral fever cases were particularly high among the people who lived in settlements near the Kankai and Biring rivers.  

Hundred of flood displaced people from these settlements are presently taking shelter at local school buildings as their homes are submerged in floodwaters. 

There is a scarcity of clean drinking water and the flood-affected people are forced to drink contaminated water, said Prem Neupane, chief of Sharanamati Health Post. The health post, in partnership with a local NGO, on Wednesday ran a health camp in which 286 people were treated. 

Besides viral fever, people are also suffering from skin allergies and cold due to exposure to polluted water.

Laxman Bishwokarma, chief of Kumarkhod Health Post, said they were running out of medicines to treat viral fever patients.

The disease is under control so far, but the number of patients is growing by the day, he added.

Six people died and two others are still missing in the floods at Kankai and Biring rivers in Jhapa Rural Municipality.