Chief of the DPHO, Chandra Dev Mehata, said he has not received any information about the rise in chickenpox infection. "As we have not received any information, we are completely unaware about it," he said on Friday.Dr Pitambar Thakur, chief of Mechi Zonal Hospital, said the hospital is receiving increased number of chickenpox patients of late. However, the DHO, which is adjoined to the hospital, has claimed that it is not aware about the issue.
As it is a highly contagious disease, such response from the DPHO shows that it is not serious regarding public health. Many locals expressed disappointment and accused the DHO of being irresponsible.
Health workers stated that awareness is the key to fight against the disease. They even warned that the infection would spread widely if necessary precautions are not taken on time.
Chickenpox usually begins with itchy rashes of red papules, which would gradually spread around the body. Its symptoms also include fever, headache among others, according to doctors.
"We receive 8-10 chickenpox patients on a daily basis," informed Dillip Subedi, operator of a polyclinic in Kakarbhitta. "Although most of the patients are children, we have also been receiving patients of other age groups," he added.
According to Dr Raju Sedhai, a child specialist, children of 5-10 age groups are more vulnerable to the disease. Not surprisingly, many schools in the district have recorded large number of absentees.
"Chickenpox is not a very dangerous disease but its symptoms are scary. Victims should visit doctor within 24-48 hours of noticing its symptoms," said Dr Sedhai.
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