EDCD team in diarrhoea-hit VDC of Saptari

Kathmandu September 23

Epidemiology and Disease Control Division under the Department of Health Services has deployed a team of health workers to control the recent diarrhoea outbreak that has been spreading in Koiladi VDC of Saptari district.

Officials at the EDCD informed that a three-member team was deployed in the diarrhoea-hit area. “The team has already started investigation and will remain in the disease-hit areas until further notice,” said Dr Gunanidhi Sharma, chief of epidemiology section at EDCD.

He informed that the Nepal office of World Health Organisation has also deployed a separate team to the affected villages.

According to Dr Sharma, over 72 residents of Koiladi-2, were treated for severe diarrhea at the health facilities in the district. The condition of seven of the diarrhea patients have been known to be critical. The District Public Health Office, Saptari has referred the critically ailing patients to Sagarmatha Zonal Hospital in Rajbiraj.

“Health workers deployed in the affected villages suspect cholera outbreak but the real cause is yet to be established,” said Dr Sharma. He informed that samples of drinking water and stools of infected people have been collected and sent for laboratory examination.

The health workers have reported that open defecation is rampant in the disease hit villages. EDCD said contaminated water had caused the outbreak.

Stool, water samples brought to capital for test

KATHMANDU: Epidemiology and Disease Control Division under the Department of Health Services said samples of stool of diarrhoea patients and water samples were brought to capital for confirmation of cholera outbreak in Koiladi VDC of Saptari district.

Cholera was detected in the initial test carried out by the Saptari district hospital. “Health workers deployed in the disease-hit villages have sent samples of stool of the infected people and water to Kathmandu for further confirmation of cholera outbreak,” said Dr Gunanidhi Sharma, chief of epidemiology section of EDCD.

He said the samples of stool and water would be examined in National Public Health Laboratory of Department of Health Services. “Cholera was detected in the initial tests but we need NPHL report to confirm it,” added Dr Sharma.

He informed that six stool samples of patients suffering from severe diarrhea and four water samples collected from affected villages have been sent to NPHL.