RAJBIRAJ: At least 10 cases of Hong Kong flu and one case of swine flu have been detected at Kanchanrup Municipality in Saptari district.

According to Chief Public Health Officer Niranjan Yadav, one case of swine flu and four cases of Hong Kong flu were found in Kanchanrup Municipality and six other cases were detected in Kankalini Municipality in the district.

Hundreds of patients have been suffering from high fever and cold in the area.

Mayor Basanta Kumar Mishra said, "An emergency meeting called by the Municipality has decided to declare the area as 'emergency area' and close educational institutions for three days from Sunday."

The Municipality made the decision to this effect to control the outbreak of the H1N5 virus in the area and its adjoining districts, Mishra added.

At least 24 persons blood samples were collected, during health camp at Kanchanrup and Hanumannagar last week, and sent to National Public Health Laboratory in Kathmandu.

Chief District Officer Surendra Paudel said, "District Disaster Management committee's meeting has decided to dispatch a medical team in the affected areas."

Municipality's health coordinator Dambar Prasad Gupta said health camps have been set up in wards 2,4 and 7.

Meanwhile, health professionals from the Dharan-based BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences and local health posts workers have been carrying out health checkup in the affected areas in the district.