Cholera Spreads at Community Level in Birgunj, 54 Infected Confirmed

Birgunj, August 24. Cholera infection has spread at the community level in Birgunj. On Friday evening, three patients admitted to Terai Hospital with diarrhea were confirmed to have cholera.

According to Raju Sah, an official at the Health and Social Development Division of Birgunj Metropolitan City, by Sunday afternoon, cholera infection was confirmed among 54 patients who had been hospitalized with diarrhea. He said that the exact number of confirmed cases would be known in the evening since health workers are still in the hospitals and some test results are yet to arrive.

Currently, about 150 patients with diarrhea and confirmed cholera are undergoing treatment in more than a dozen hospitals in Birgunj. Narayani Hospital has the highest number of patients.

At Narayani Hospital, 25 cholera patients and 45 diarrhea patients are being treated, according to the hospital’s information officer, Dr. Uday Narayan Singh. Similarly, 12 cholera patients are undergoing treatment at Terai Hospital.

At National Medical College, cholera infection has been confirmed in 6 people, and 3 people are under treatment at Birgunj Health Care Hospital. Likewise, 2 infected patients each are being treated at Bhawani Hospital, Ali Ortho Trauma Center, Narayani Central Hospital, and Mangalam Hospital.

At present, around 45–50 patients are being treated at Narayani Hospital, 35–40 at Terai Hospital, around 30 at Birgunj Health Care Hospital, 14 at Advance Hospital, and 14 at National Medical College.

On Friday night, about 30 diarrhea patients were under treatment, which increased to 92 patients by Saturday night. By Sunday morning, the number had reached 129, and by Sunday afternoon, the total number of diarrhea and cholera patients exceeded 150.

Most patients are from wards 11, 12, 16, and 18 of Birgunj Metropolitan City. One cholera patient has returned home after treatment, while 43 others are still hospitalized.

Although speculations are being made regarding the source and cause of the cholera outbreak, no official confirmation has been received.

No Autopsy Conducted on Two Deaths

Local administration claims that no one has died due to cholera so far. However, one patient died on the way to the hospital, and another immediately after being brought in, so no autopsy could be performed. Still, the administration stated that both had symptoms similar to cholera.

According to Raju Sah, kits have already been distributed to most hospitals in Birgunj through the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division of the Ministry of Health.

On Saturday, the metropolitan city held a meeting with hospital operators and urged them to adopt more precautions to control the outbreak. On Sunday, a meeting of municipal staff decided to conduct door-to-door awareness campaigns, emphasize sanitation, and bring patients for treatment in 16 wards considered high-risk.

Major Symptoms of Cholera

According to Dr. Uday Narayan Singh, the major symptoms of cholera include continuous diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain, fever, sunken eyes, muscle cramps, and dehydration. If untreated in time, the disease can lead to death.

Dr. Singh said that cholera, which was first seen in two localities of two wards, has now spread to more than a dozen localities across 6–7 wards of the metropolitan city. This confirms that cholera has spread at the community level.

Meanwhile, Birgunj Metropolitan City has declared that cholera has reached the community level and, to prevent further spread, closed all schools on Sunday and Monday. The city has also urged people not to sell or consume food items like pani puri, chat, bhaja, and other street foods sold in open areas along the roads.