Himalayan News Service

Baireni (Dhadhing), February 5

Two primary schools have been forced to close down following the spread of measles and smallpox in epidemic proportions in two wards of Baireni VDC of Dhading, located in a remote area in the southern part of the district headquarter.

Tek Bahadur Tamang, a local who had gone to Baireni bazaar to buy medicines today told this daily that in a span of a week, 25 children of Bayugaun and 20 in Tukting of ward no 4 and 15 children of Aapchaur, ward no 5, are reported to have been affected by the diseases. Two prominent primary schools in the two wards of Baireni VDC have been forced to close down in the past four days, he said quoting officials in the schools.The epidemic has still not been brought in check, resulting in schools’ closure, he added.

Meanwhile, health workers said they were not aware of the spread of the epidemic.

They argued that it might be because of the ignorance of the people and their not vaccinating their children in time.