Kathmandu, August 6

The number of diarrhoea patients being admitted to major hospitals and tested positive for cholera continues unabated in the Kathmandu Valley.

According to a weekly bulletin released by the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division, at least 30 cholera Vibrio cholerae Ogawa 01 cases were reported from Sukraraj Tropical Infectious Disease Hospital, and Patan and KIST hospitals this week.

The samples were confirmed positive by the Nepal Public Health Laboratory. However, no death has been reported, thanks to timely treatment and easy access to hospitals in urban areas.

The Epidemiology and Disease Control Division under the Department of Health Services said epidemiological and environmental investigations along with water treatment and sanitation activities are been carried out in coordination with district public health offices and partners to tackle with the situation.

Officials informed that patients continue to visit hospitals with cholera symptoms such as watery diarrhoea, vomiting and muscle cramp. Many other patients are believed to be visiting many other private hospitals for treatment and thus the cases of cholera could be three times higher than the number recorded by EDCD.

Most of the cases were recorded from Kalimati, Tripureshwor and Bafal of Kathmandu, and Bhaisepati, Thaiba, Lagankhel and Tangal among other areas of Lalitpur.

Health officials have advised the denizens to use boiled or chlorine-treated water to prevent the disease and to visit the hospital as and when they develop any symptom of the disease. Use of unsafe water and poor sanitation are the main reasons that cause the disease to spread during the rainy season.

Cholera is caused by ingestion of food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The bacteria has a very short incubation period of two hours to five days. This can lead to death if untreated within 24 hours. As many as 80 cases of cholera with zero death were reported in the Valley last year.