Officials at the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) said that hundreds of patients who have developed symptoms of the viral infection are receiving treatment in health centers across the country. [break]
According to the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division (EDCD) under the Department of Health Services (DoHS), Dailekh, Okhaldhunga, Khotang and Kanchanpur are among the most effected districts, forcing the local authorities to shut down schools to control possible spread of the disease.
Officials at the Health Ministry said that they are closely monitoring the situation but have not yet mobilized medial manpower from the center.
"Since viral fever is a seasonal phenomenon but not a life threatening disease unless there are other health-related complications, something that seems to have happened mainly in Dailekh, we are extending support to district health centers short of sending manpower from the center," said Dr GD Thakur, director of EDCD.
“We have dispatched sufficient amounts of medicine to the districts and early indications suggest that the disease is gradually coming under control,” he said.
Dr Thakur, however, declined to use the term viral fever outbreak, arguing that the number of patients needs to be at least double that of last year to call it an outbreak.
EDCD also claimed that no patient has yet died at a health center from viral fever. “Those who died while suffering from the malady had other medical complications,” he added.
Other officials at EDCD claimed that the fever can be cured in most cases by taking simple drugs like a paracetamol tablet thrice a day, but some might develop other infectionk, for which they need to take antibiotics under prescription. In most cases the fever disappears within five days, said Dr Thakur.
He further said that the health centers have urged people in the effected areas to avoid mass gatherings, which have been identified as the main factor in the spread of viral fever, and to drink sufficient amounts of liquid if one develops the symptoms.
Dr Thakur also said that the division is planning to mobilize female community health volunteers to raise awareness about the disease. The office has sought help from local civil society, teachers and security agencies for the awareness campaign.
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