DHANGADI, JANUARY 24

Measles patients have been found in three local levels of Kailali.

Measles infected patients were found in Dhangadi, Godawari and Gariganga of the district. The risk of measles spreading in the community has increased after people with measles were found in the local levels.

An emergency vaccination programme was launched in the affected areas to control the infection.

According to Health Office, Kailali, measles was detected among four kids who came from India to Ward No 1 of Dhangadi, Ward No 3 of Godawari, and Ward No 6 of Gauriganga. Health Office Chief Lal Bahadur Dhami said that the vaccination programme would be launched in the affected areas. As many as seven patients from three local levels of the district were found infected with measles.

The government has aimed to eradicate measles by 2023.

But this target does not seem attainable this year as new cases of measles were reported in Banke and Kailali.

Following this, health workers have been deployed in the suspected areas.

Health and Population Ministry's Family Welfare Department Chief Bharat Bhandari said the federal government had decided to vaccinate children aged between six months and 15 years.

The federal government will soon provide the vaccine to health offices and the local levels for the vaccination drive.

People's representatives will help carry out the vaccination campaign in their local levels.

The infection was mainly seen among the poor, Dalits and Muslim communities.

Health workers said that symptoms of the disease are seen within seven to 14 days after coming in contact with the infected person. The symptoms of measles are high fever, cough and runny nose, among others.

A version of this article appears in the print on January 25, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.