OKHALDHUNGA, July 26: Manebhanjyang Rural Municipality in Okhaldhunga has started a campaign to control sandfly, a vector causing Kala-azar. The campaign started in ward 2 Baksa of the rural municipality.

Last year, the disease was diagnosed in one patient of Baksa. Symptoms of kala- azar were seen in 17 years old Srijana Karki of Karkibesi-9, according to Umesh Adhikari, the ward chairman. After the outbreak, activities of spraying insecticide has started to kill insects at lower regions of the district such as Karkibesi, Lyaba, Lafe, Salghari, Bhagerichaur and Langha villages, according to ward chief Adhikari.

A four-member team was trained in Baksa before it was assigned to spray the insecticides. “Spraying insecticides started after tools and medicine were made available by the District Health Office,” said Bishwaraj Dahal, medical coordinator of the rural municipality, adding, “Our team will spray the insecticide in residential areas, toilets, sheds, stables and other vector-prone areas.”

According to health specialists, Kala- azar is transmitted with the bite of an infected female sand fly into a susceptible host. Patients start showing symptoms including fever longer than two weeks, not responding to antibiotics, enlargement of spleen, chest pain, weakness, grayish discoloration of the skin etc.

Previously, a similar campaign was launched in Ubu and Hilepani of the rural municipality. The authorities said the campaign will soon be launched in other wards as well.

 
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