SIMKOT, FEBRUARY 21

Humla, a district in Karnali Province, is reporting an increase in viral fever cases in recent days.

The number of patients with viral fever is increasing by the day across the district significantly in the southern part, according to health workers. The situation has been an issue of public concern, it is said. Health facilities across the district have been struggling to deal with increased caseload of viral fever since mid-February.

The Shreenagar Health Post at Adanchuli rural municipality said it treated 167 people for viral fever in less than a week. According to assistant health worker Ashok Mahatara, over 400 people with viral fever have so far visited the facility lately.

If patient report symptoms similar to COVID-19, PCR test is required, but the lack of testing kits has caused the problem. Though the latest wave of COVID-19 is subsiding in the country, the number of people visiting health facilities with complains of COVID-19 like symptoms is also on the rise here and Adanchula rural municipality is among the seven local levels to report such cases.

The case is not specific of the village, but it is escalating in other parts of the district. Health facilities here except the District Hospital experience the shortage of testing kits. With this, the containment efforts have got hampered, health workers complained.