Jajarkot, April 4

The breakout of seasonal diseases, including viral fever and diarrhoea, has affected the superintendents, invigilators and candidates appearing for the ongoing School Leaving Certificate Examinations at Janapriya Higher Secondary School in Jajarkot.

Superintendent Sher Bahadur Adhikari, invigilators Harka Bahadur Thapa, Bipana Thapa and Ain Bahadur Thapa, along with 14 examinees at the school have been suffering from fever and diarrhoea.

Adhikari said all the affected were administered medicine at the exam centre.

He said the diseases had spread from yesterday. “However, no examinee left the exam hall today as they were administered medicine before sitting for the exam,” he informed.

Health Assistant Nabina Kandel, in-charge at Dasera Health Post, said as many as 13 examinees suffering from seasonal diseases received treatment at the health post today. “The symptoms of viral fever and diarrhoea have surfaced among the villagers as well,” she said.

Kandel added that more patients suffering from seasonal diseases were visiting the health post of late. “We have taken preventive measures to control an epidemic,” she informed.

She also said that the health post had three health workers and enough medicine in stock if needed.

Meanwhile, Chief of the Department of Epidemic Diseases Control at District Health Office, Krishna Bahadur Khatri, said the office could deploy more health workers and supply medicine to the health

post. “We could deploy additional manpower if the situation gets worse,” he said.

As many as 27 persons lost their lives due to swine flu last year, while more than 250 died due to diarrhoea some six years ago in Jajarkot.