BAJURA, Feb 8: Suspected viral fever has claimed two lives and infected dozens of people in Swamikartik Khapar Rural Municipality of Bajura district, according to Janak Bahadur Rokaya, chairperson of ward number 1 of the rural municipality. Health experts have however hesitated to term it as viral fever unless medically proven.
Mima Khadara, 55, breathed her last on Tuesday evening while Dal Bahadur Rawal, 70, succumbed health complications similar to that caused by viral fever the next day. The locals are panicked as fever has gripped many people in the rural municipality.
According to Birja BK, in-charge of Sapatta Health Post, a growing number of people have been coming to the health post due to fever. At the deceased Kadara's house, five more members are hard hit by fever, he informed. "It is spreading. It is not a good sign," he said.
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BK further said that health workers are busy tackling the situation. However, there are mounting challenges.
First, the fever was seen in some people at Himali Rural Municipality – 6 and later it was noticed in Swamikartik Khapar Rural Municipality. According to health workers, the delay in their treatment and lack of precautions led to the quick spread of the viral infection. The death of two persons due to viral fever is sad and is enough to make others panicked, they remarked.
Daya Krishna Panta, senior official at public health office of Bajura, is not ready to term it as viral fever before getting lab reports. "Only after due examination at the lab, we can ascertain it. It looks like viral fever, but we will have to wait before giving official statement," he said.
Reportedly, over 200 people are suffering from 'viral fever' at Himali Rural Municipality alone. The fever is taking a growing number of people under its grip, according to health workers in the district.
Senior health official Panta stated that health workers and experts have been deployed at affected areas. Similarly, necessary tools and equipment have been sent off to the villages.
"We have sent samples to Kathmandu for lab tests. Our team is working to avert the spreading of the fever in the district," Panta said.
