Amid news of the worsening situation in Jajarkot, Rukum locals have demanded that VDCs close to Jajarkot be treated as a 'high alert zone' without further delay.
"Prevention is always better than cure. There are around half a dozen VDCs which are contiguous with VDCs in Jajarkot where the flu has wreaked havoc. We need to act before it's too late," said Dr Mamata Thapa of Chaurjahari Mission Hospital in Rukum. "In fact, the flow of people to Rukum can be attributed to this hospital. They come for checkups," she added.
Bijayashowri, Kotjahari, Purtimkanda, Athbishkot, Ghetma and Gotamkot are among the VDCs that border on VCDs in Jajarkot.
Apart from the hospital, the marketplace at Chaurjahari also attracts a huge number of people from Jajarkot, for whom it is.their main shopping destination.
Dr Thapa informed that almost everyone who came to the hospital from Jajarkot for a checkup has shown symptoms of the seasonal flu. "Patients who have come here from Jajarkot for a checkup are suffering from fever, headache and common cold," she said.
Police constable Hira Khatri at Chaurhajari said news of the outbreak in Jajarkot has left locals in Rukum in a state of panic. Out of fear of the flu spreading to their district, Rukum locals have been quite cautious in their movements, he said. "Everyone knows what is happening and everyone is in panic. We have been advising them to wear masks and so on while they in turn tell us to do something about the situation," said Khatri.
Meanwhile, Dr Thapa said people in Jajarkot have demanded that sensitive areas in the district be declared a high alert zone.
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