The Ministry of Health and Population said that it has increased the number of doctors and testing kits to control the spread of cholera infection in Birgunj after the number deaths from cholera reached three.
According to the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division (EDCD) under the Ministry, 40 people have tested positive for cholera and 129 people are undergoing treatment under suspicion of cholera.
“As many as 129 people have shown symptoms of diarrhea. They are undergoing at various hospitals,” Division Director Dr Chandra Bhal Jha said, “They will also be tested for cholera.”
According to Director Jha, 80 people are being treated in the ICU and HDU rooms. Since August 13, three people have died from the cholera infection.
After the cholera infection began to spread, officials from the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization (WHO) Nepal are heading to Birgunj today. Director of the Division, Jha, mentioned that they are in constant contact and are going to Birgunj to understand the situation.
“We are deploying a team from the Ministry and EDCD to arrange for treatment and increase testing,” he said, “If we can quickly increase testing and bring it within the scope of treatment, it can be controlled.”
Dr. Jha, informed that an investigation is underway regarding how the cholera infection spread in Birgunj.
Cholera infection, which spreads through contaminated water and food, is caused by a bacterium called 'Vibrio cholerae'. The bacterium affects the small intestine, causing the body to expel large amounts of water. This results in continuous diarrhea. In severe conditions, a large amount of salt and fluids are lost from the body. The amount of water in the body becomes extremely low, which can even lead to death.
Symptoms appear within 12 hours to five days of infection. The infection has been seen in wards numbers 3, 11, 12, 13, and 16 of the metropolis.
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