Unclean water blamed for Doti diarrhea

DOTI, July 24: The team of representatives from the Epidemiology and Diseases Control Division (EDCD) and the World Health Organization (WHO) that has been studying the diarrhea outbreak in Doti district for the past six weeks has attributed the epidemic to contaminated drinking water and lack of proper hygiene.



According to Kumar Dahal of EDCD, the matter would be confirmed after the water sample is tested in a lab in Kathmandu. [break]



“We found the affected areas quite unclean. There was foul smell all over. The people were not drinking clean water and their houses also were not clean,” Dahal, who reached Dipayal on Monday after completing field study, said. “Lack of awareness about hygiene is also one of the main reasons of the outbreak,” Dahal added.



The team including Dr Ravi Kafle had reached the most affected Kalena and Baglek village development committees (VDC) and inspected drinking water sources and collected stool samples of the patients. The team sensitized the locals about the importance of hygiene and also collected responses from the affected families to a questionnaire.



The District Public Health Office (DPHO), Doti has already confirmed prevalence of cholera in Baglek VDC and has put the district at high risk for Cholera outbreak. “We will get the actual picture within 15 days after the reports of stool samples are obtained,” Dahal added.



The outbreak has affected Dipayal Silgadhi Municipality, and Kalena, Baglek, Sanagaun, Khirsain, Kathmandu, Pokhari, Ganjari and Durgamandu VDCs. The DPHO said 335 patients in the district headquarters and surrounding areas have been treated at public health institutions. Private clinics and Doti Soojung Hospital are also treating a large number of diarrhea patients.

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