Kathmandu, October 5

Epidemiology and Disease Control Division of the Department of Health Services said it has sent a medical team to Chitwan to study the latest development related to the spread of dengue fever in the district.

Another team of health workers comprising a doctor and experts has been kept in reserve for mobilisation in the district if the condition worsens, officials said.

“We have sent a medical team to Chitwan today,” Dr Bhim Sapkota, public health officer at the EDCD, said. He informed that EDCD has kept a medical team on 24 hours standby to deploy in the district if the situation worsens.

”We are doing our best to control the epidemic,” Sapkota, claimed, adding that health workers deployed in the district would not take leave for the Dashain festival.

According to Sapkota, the team deployed today will report to the EDCD about the latest developments as far as the epidemic is concerned.

He informed that 66 people of the district had tested positive for dengue till yesterday. Hundreds of patients suffering from high fever are undergoing treatment in various health facilities of the district.

“The number of cases could rise, as a lot of people suffering from high fever have been admitted in health facilities across the district,” said Sapkota.

He said that most of them showed dengue-like symptoms. The disease exhibits symptoms such as mild to high fever, severe headache, pain in the eyes, muscles, and rashes.

The EDCD, which is responsible for curbing the spread of the epidemics throughout the country, has also launched a search and destroy and awareness drive in the district after the number of people suffering from this deadly disease rose significantly.

Health workers, including female community health volunteers, community workers, teachers and social mobilisers from non-governmental organisations active in the district have been mobilised for the campaign.

Dr Bhim Acharya, Director at EDCD said that the division has been using local and national means of mass communication like radio, television and print media as tools in the awareness campaign.