Siraha, August 23

Diarrhoea and viral fever have taken a toll on the health of flood victims in Siraha, of late.

Yesterday itself, as many as 75 viral fever patients were treated at the primary health centre in Aurahi. A team of doctors deployed from District Health Office, Siraha treated the patients, all of whom hailed from a Musahar settlement in Aurahi ward 5.

Senior assistant health worker Upendra Kumar Yadav from the health centre blamed the diseases on consumption of contaminated drinking water. “Besides the water issue, the disease may also have to do with damp, soggy residences caused by floodwaters after the recent deluge,” he said, adding that more people were falling ill in the village, recently.

As per data, the health centre has treated over 100 diarrhoea patients, so far, following the natural disaster. “Eight patients are being treated at the health centre now. Four of them were admitted to the health centre today,” Yadav said. District Health Office, Siraha chief Dr Chumanlal Das confirmed that cases of viral fever in Aurahi and other flood-affected areas in the district were increasing. “We have deployed health workers to flood-hit villages in the district, for treatment,” he said.

Das said places like Lahan, Parsahi and flood-affected areas of Karjanha Rural Municipality were in the grip of viral fever. He, however, added the situation was under control. “As for now, the situation is not so serious, but the disease might get out of hand if we failto intervene in time,” he said.