Key Takeaways:

• 77,000 targeted in emergency drive
• E. coli detected in Bidur Municipality water samples
• 40,291 vaccinated so far across municipalities
• Flood impact disrupted sanitation and raised cholera risk

NUWAKOT, SEPTEMBER 20 Health authorities are racing to vaccinate more than 77,000 people against cholera in flood-affected areas of Nuwakot after E. coli was detected in five of 15 water samples tested in Bidur Municipality, raising concerns over water-borne diseases. The emergency seven-day vaccination campaign, led by the Public Health Office in coordination with the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division, is providing oral cholera vaccines free of charge to people aged above one year at health facilities and temporary holding centres. Officials said 40,291 people have so far received the vaccine in municipalities, while health teams are being deployed to reach residents in remote and high-risk areas. The campaign follows the August 26 Bhotekoshi floods, which disrupted drinking-water and sanitation systems and displaced residents. The contamination detected in Bidur has heightened concerns about the possible spread of cholera and other water-borne diseases. Dr Anju Karki, chief of the Public Health Office, said vaccination alone was not sufficient to prevent transmission, stressing the need for safe drinking water, personal hygiene and proper sanitation. The campaign is considered particularly important for people staying in temporary holding centres, where maintaining adequate sanitation can be difficult. Health authorities have advised residents to boil or purify drinking water, maintain clean areas for food preparation and keep living spaces sanitary. They have also urged people to seek medical attention promptly if they develop symptoms associated with cholera.