The deceased has been identified as Harka Bahadur Bam, 55, of Mehalmudi VDC-3. He had been suffering from fever, cough and cold since the last four days."Bam died for lack of treatment," Bir Bahadur Bohara, a local, said.
With the latest death, the flu that spread from Jajarkot has claimed the lives of two locals in Kalikot. Last Monday, Rabina Kathayat, a three-year-old in Ramnakot VDC who had been suffering from pneumonia, succumbed to the flu.
In Jajarkot district, 29 people have already died in the epidemic.
So far, the total number of infected in Kalikot has reached 239. Among them, the condition of 23 is said to be critical, according to Lalit Jung Shahi, in-charge at Kumalgaun Primary Health Care Center. He informed that 35 more people in the district were diagnosed with the seasonal flu on Thursday. Children, the elderly and patients with other ailments are most vulnerable to infection.
With the outbreak of the seasonal flu in Kalikot, a medical team led by Dr Rajendra Pant, director at the Mid-Western Regional Health Directorate based in Surkhet, visited the affected areas Wednesday. At an emergency press meet he made public the status of hundreds infected by the flu. According to the infected, the symptoms seen in Kalikot are similar to those in Jajarkot.
Although the medical team suggested to the district authorities and other stakeholders to declare a high state of alert and intensify treatment services in affected areas, efforts expected from the authorities are yet to materialise, according to the locals.
The spread of the flu from Jajarkot to Kalikot has panicked the locals. They are complaining of a shortage of medicines at local health facilities.
Only one doctor has reached the affected areas, according to the locals. Local health workers are currently treating the patients but their services have not been so effective, they complained.
Lanka Shahi, another local, said that the doctors and medicines sent to the affected areas are not sufficient foir treating the hundreds of patients.
It is learnt that Mohan Aidi, a local of Tikuwa VDC, was the first to be infected with flu a week ago after his arrival back from India where he was employed. All members of his family are also suffering from the outbreak, which has now infected hundreds in the district.
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