Cholera-inducing bacteria, Escherichia coli (E. coli), and faecal Coliforms have been found in three areas of the Kathmandu Valley.
The water samples were taken from the nine places in the valley following the detection of the first cholera case inside the valley.
According to Basanta Adhikari, Chief of the Kathmandu Health Office, three of the nine places have already detected bacteria inducing cholera. The disease was detected in two sisters aged 18 and 23 years from Kathmandu Metropolitan City-28, Bagbazaar. After which, water samples were taken from residents, and the test conducted by the National Public Health Laboratory tested positive for faecal bacteria and Escherichia coli (E. coli). The stored water is from the tap water.
Likewise, Coliform bacteria was detected in water samples taken from jar water in the Dillibazar area. Furthermore, out of the 36 samples tested by the Buddhanilkantha Municipality 24 water samples tested Coliform bacteria.
Eight cases of Cholera within a week
Dr Chuman Lal Das, Director of the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division (EDCD) said that with three more people infected with cholera in two days, the cholera-infected cases of the bacterial disease in Kathmandu Valley since Sunday have reached eight.
Director Das, said, “ Eight cases of Cholera have been confirmed so far in Patan Institute of Health Sciences, Vayodha Hospital and Sukraraj Tropical & Infectious Disease Hospital. Six from Sukraraj Tropical & Infectious Disease Hospital and one each in Patan Institute of Health Sciences, Vayodha Hospital.”
The deadly disease has been found in diarrhoeal patients from Bagbazar, Dillibazar, Balaju, Sanepa, and Kapan areas, raising the risk of spreading all over the capital. Six cholera cases
Nawaraj Gautam, Information Officer at Sukraraj Tropical & Infectious Disease Hospital said that six of the eight cholera patients are from Teku Hospital, of which, three have returned home and the other three are receiving treatment at the general ward.
He said that nine cases of diarrhoea on average are being observed a day following the first detected case.
According to the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP), for every 1,000 children under five years of age, 349 suffered from diarrhoeal diseases. The data is from the previous fiscal year.
Source : TRN,
