KATHMANDU, Sept 7: The risk of an outbreak of infectious diseases has increased in Bhotekoshi flood-hit areas.
The health specialists have suggested adopting alert measures in view of the high risk of many diseases due to contaminated water, garbage and mosquitoes.
They urged people to remain alert, as consumption of floodwater or water mixed with floodwater might increase the risk of water-borne diseases including diarrhoea and cholera.
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Chief Consultant Physician at Shukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital, Teku, Kathmandu, Dr Bimal Sharma Chalise, stressed the need to keep personal hygiene during a disaster.
He mentioned, "Attention should be paid to personal hygiene, quality of water and food hygiene, as pollution has spread from the flood. There is a risk of outbreak of vector-borne disease and skin infection."
Similarly, Infectious Disease Specialist Dr Sher Bahadur Pun warned of a higher possibility of waterborne diseases rather than vector-borne ones in the initial period of the disaster.
Dr Pun mentioned that especially children, elderly persons, pregnant women, and patients with chronic diseases should be protected from such diseases, adding that various types of epidemics would take place if bodies could not be managed for long.
He underlined that there is a risk of spreading different types of infectious diseases if those involved in the rescue and distribution of relief materials in flood-hit areas do not pay attention to hygiene.
Out of 15 water samples collected from different holding centres of Bidur municipality in Nuwakot, E. coli virus was confirmed in five samples, shared by the Information Officer of the Public Health Office, Nuwakot, Krishna Rijal.
The water sources have been treated to make them safe for consumption, and there is no longer any risk, he added, suggesting that all consume water only after purifying it.
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