KATHMANDU: Epidemiology ad Disease Control Division (EDCD) under the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) has claimed that only a few cases of viral fever that broke out in Chitwan were found to be H1N1 (swine flu). Dr Vishwo Raj Khanal, epidemiologist at the EDCD said that three cases of the pandemic H1N1 were confirmed from the samples collected.

Dr Khanal informed that EDCD had already mobilised an investigation team from the centre. “Samples are being collected to ascertain the exact cause behind the outbreak of high fever in the area,” said Dr Khanal

Talking to The Himalayan Times, he further said that they have recorded increasing number of patients of viral fever. “We have asked the health personnel to be alert,” Khanal said. EDCD made public the laboratory reports of six blood samples of six patients collected in between October 7-11, on Thursday. Meanwhile, the investigation team has also recorded symptoms of malaria in some cases. However, the team confirmed that the outbreak was not that widely spread in the area.

So far, Nepal has recorded a single death caused by the pandemic H1N1.