Nepal Diarrhoea/Cholera 2010

[Ronan Kelly]

Three die of diarrhoea
KANTIPUR REPORT
DAILEKH, APR 13 -

Two people died of diarrhoea in Dailekh district in the last three days. Officials at District Hospital said Durga Prasad Adhikari of Jagannath VDC and Manisha Nepali of Rautkot VDC died on Sunday and Monday respectively.

The hospital said that diarrhoea outbreak has been reported in some eastern villages of the district. Meanwhile, one Pima Bista of Loharpani VDC in Dang district died of the disease on Sunday.

http://www.ekantipur.com/2010/04/13/national/three-die-of-diarrhoea/312311/

[Shiloh]

Re: Nepal 2010 : 3 fatalities

Source: http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/ful...&NewsID=239451

Diarrhoea outbreak in Jajarkot, Kanchanpur

Last Updated : 2010-04-17 12:40 AM
Dinesh Shrestha /Rajendra Bhatta

JAJARKOT/ MAHENDRANAGAR: Jajarkot district, which is deemed vulnerable to diarrhoea epidemic, recorded the first death from diarrhoea this year with the demise of 22-year-old Dharmi Shahi.

With the onset of summer, hundreds of villagers have fallen sick in several VDCs owing to the diarrhoea outbreak in Jajarkot, which was worst-hit by the disease assault last year. According to a local, Karabir Shahi, 22-year-old Dharmi Shahi of Jungathapachaur died of diarrhoea 24 hours after she contracted the disease. The entire district has been in the grip of diarrhoea since mid-March. The diarrhoea has assumed epidemic proportion in Nayakwada, Paink, Rokayagaun, Khagenkot, Jatipur, Jungathapachaur, Sima, Bhagawati, Pajaru, Dhime and Khalanga VDCs...

[Pathfinder]

Re: Nepal 2010 : 3 fatalities

DIARRHOEA OUTBREAK: Minister directed to adopt measures

KATHMANDU, APR 23 -

Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal on Friday directed the Minister for Health and Population, Umakant Chaudhary, to adopt necessary measures to bring under control the diarrhoea and cholera outbreak in the Mid-and Far-Western regions.

Following reports of people falling victim to diarrhoea, Nepal held consultations on preparations being made to combat the outbreak and appealed to all stakeholders to act fast.

According to the prime minister?s press advisor Bishnu Rijal, Nepal has asked Chaudhary to ensure smooth distribution of medicines and deploy health workers in the regions at the earliest.

In his discussions with the health minister and officials of various other ministries, Nepal expressed serious concern over

The disease breaking out again this year again and directed the authorities concerned to take immediate measures. Last year, over 300 people died in a similar outbreak while more than 1,000 were affected in the regions.

?With joint efforts by every sector, we can combat the diarrhoea outbreak,? Rijal quoted the prime minister as saying. ?Dividing work and responsibilities is a must to combat the problem,? he added. Secretary at the Prime Minister?s office Lilamani Poudyal suggested

The health ministry launch awareness programmes in affected areas to avoid such outbreaks in future.

http://www.ekantipur.com/the-kathmandu-post/2010/04/23/Nation/DIARRHOEA-OUTBREAK-Minister-directed-to-adopt-measures/207528/

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Nepal 2010 : 3 fatalities

Diarhhoea claims one more in Jajarkot
RSS
RUKUM, APR 28 -

One more person has died of diarrhoea in Jajarkot on Wednesday.

The deceased has been identified as Prithvi Bahadur Budha, 25, of Jugathapachaur-5, said district public health Chief Dr. Jhalak Gautam. With this, the number of people died from diarrahoea has reached five in the district.

Most of the districts in the mid and far-western regions have been gripped by diarrhoea these days due to consumption of polluted water and increasing temperature.

http://www.ekantipur.com/2010/04/28/national/diarhhoea-claims-one-more-in-jajarkot/313254/

[Shiloh]

Re: Nepal 2010 : 5 fatalities

Source: http://www.zeenews.com/news622867.html

UN alerts Nepal on outbreak of diarrhea
Updated on Thursday, April 29, 2010, 15:24 IST

Kathmandu: The UN has alerted Nepal government about possible outbreak of diarrhoea and other waterborne diseases in western districts of the country owing to rising temperature in the summer.

Following last year's outbreak that claimed 369 lives in western Nepal the human rights body and its partners are watching the situation carefully, said a press release issued by the UN Office in Nepal.

The humanitarian community in Nepal has asked the government to pay greater attention to the causes of diarrhoea as the temperature rises and water sources dry up.

Reports of waterborne illnesses and even deaths are again on the rise in the western regions of the country, the statement issued by the UN pointed out...

[Shiloh]

Re: Nepal 2010 : 5 fatalities

Source: http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/ful...sID=242759&a=3

Striking Maoists contract dysentary, diarrhoea
Last Updated : 2010-05-04 12:49 AM

Laxmi Maharjan

KATHMANDU: Change in the Kathmandu weather, stale food and vegetables, contaminated drinking water, dirty dishes and lack of sanitation facilities in the shelter camps are beginning to take a toll on the UCPN-Maoist cadres involved in the general strike.

Hospital sources said up to 400 demonstrators had to be rushed to different hospitals in the capital city for treatment as they suffered from water-borne diseases like dysentary and diarrhoea. The UCPN-Maoist put the estimate at 300.

The sick include women, children and the elderly citizens, brought to Kathmandu from several parts of the country, according to hospital sources. Health workers, who had cautioned the Maoist party to ensure supply of hygienic food and safe drinking water to the demonstrators mobilised into Kathmandu, have also warned of an impending outbreak of water-borne diseases.

The UCPN-Maoist has reportedly assembled an estimated five lakh cadres for the protests and demonstrations aimed at marshalling the Madhav Kumar Nepal-led government that completes its first year in office this week.

The demonstrators are having to live in congested rooms in the shelters, including schools and public places.

Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Diseases Hospital, Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital and Bir Hospital have reported increased number of diarrhoea cases in the past two days.

Dr Saroj Prasad Rajendra, Director, Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Diseases Hospital, said they had recorded around 18 cases of water-borne diseases among the cadres living in Kirtipur. Most of the patients are critical and have been kept under observation, said Dr Rajendra.

?Contaminated drinking water, unhygienic food and an increasing temperature are the main reasons behind the outbreak,? said Dr Rajendra, urging UCPN-M to show seriousness towards the health of its cadres.

She added that repeatedly consuming beaten rice with stale vegetables at polluted places is also behind the transmission of disease. She urged the cadres to drink safe water and to maintain minimum personal hygiene.

Dr Basu Dev Pandey, consultant physician of the hospital, said most of the patients admitted there were in the age-group 15-45 years and lived in squalid conditions in the camps. He added that they were being provided with free treatment and medicines.

Dr DP Singh, Chief, Emergency Ward, Bir Hospital, said most of the cadres were admitted in the emergency ward suffering from gastritis and food poisoning.

TUTH too has admitted a number of critical cases of water-borne diseases. Chandra Kumar Rai, Chief, Administration Department, TUTH, said the hospital admitted patients in critical stage. Non-serious patients are given treatment by the primary health service providers, he added.

Mangal Bishwokarma, president of the All Nepal Progressive Public Health Workers? Association, said they had recorded around 300 patients suffering from diseases like diarrhoea, common cold, fever and throat pain.

?We are giving preventive as well as curative treatment to the ill cadres? added Bishwokarma. He said the party was taking care of its cadres and has directed them to drink water that contained chlorine.

[Shiloh]

Re: Nepal 2010 : 17 fatalities

Source: http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/...F?OpenDocument

Nepal: Potential diarrhoea outbreak Information Bulletin no. 1

Source: International Federation of Red Cross And Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)

Date: 06 May 2010

Full_Report (pdf* format - 68.8 Kbytes)

...A total of 17 diarrhoea-related deaths were reported by district public health offices (DPHOs) in Jajarkot, Bajura, Baitadi, Dadeldhura and Dailekh, with reports from the government, media and the UN indicating that up to eight districts are severely affected. The health authorities at national and district levels are mapping available resources. It was agreed at the joint health and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) cluster meeting held on 29 April 2010 that cluster members would start hygiene campaigns in high-risk districts through the use of coherent information, education and communication materials and recommended items as a part of a standard kit in distributions...

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Nepal 2010 : 17 fatalities

Diarrhoea claims one more in Rukum
KANTIPUR REPORT
RUKUM, MAY 03 -


A one-year-old girl died of diarrhoea in Jang VDC-8, Rukum, on Monday. The outbreak has affected 30 others.

According to Shankar Oli, a local, Kali BK, the daughter of Ranjit BK, died for want of medication. He said the nearest sub-health post is about a four-hour walk and the institution is without medicines and health workers. Chief at the District Public Health Office, Dr. Binod Giri, said the office will soon dispatch a medical team to the affected area. He claimed all health posts in the district have necessary staff and medicines.

http://www.ekantipur.com/2010/05/03/top-story/diarrhoea-claims-one-more-in-rukum/313596/

[Shiloh]

Re: Nepal 2010 : 17 fatalities

Source: http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=89133

NEPAL: Specialists call for stronger measures to combat diarrhoea


KATHMANDU, 14 May 2010 (IRIN) - Aid agencies are urging Nepal to implement stronger water and sanitation measures to prevent diarrhoea outbreaks, which claim hundreds of lives each year.

Ahead of next month's monsoon season - the four- to five-month period when there is a spike in diarrhoea-related deaths - aid workers have been calling on the government to prepare for a deluge of cases.

"This is the period of water-borne disease, and there is a lack of effective awareness programmes, which has to be stressed a lot to reduce the outbreak," said Richard Ragan, country representative of the UN World Food Programme, which is involved in public health education about safe drinking water and sanitation practices.

In 2009, there were more than 370 diarrhoea deaths, mostly in western Nepal, according to figures from the government's Epidemiology and Disease Control Division (EDCD). There were more than 67,000 diarrhoea cases reported last year, most of them in 18 of the country's 75 districts.

The east of the country is also vulnerable, with the number of children five and under who fell ill with diarrhoea increasing from 241 cases per 1,000 children in 2007, to 550 in 2009, the regional health directorate said.

Even before the monsoon has started, 15 people have died from diarrhoea-related causes in the last two months in five districts of western Nepal, according to the government...

[Shiloh]

Re: Nepal 2010 : 20 fatalities

Source: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english201...c_13298626.htm

20 die of diarrhoea in Nepal
English.news.cn 2010-05-17 11:10:07

KATHMANDU, May 17 (Xinhua) -- With continued increase in temperature over the past few weeks and the scarcity of safe drinking water, diarrhoea cases are on the rise in remote districts of the mid and far-western Nepal, local media reported on Monday.

At least 20 people died out of 441 diarrhoea patients last month, according to the data compiled by Epidemiology and Disease Control Division (EDCD) under Department of Health Services.

"Contaminated water consumption and the lack of personal hygiene are the main causes of the disease," said Dr. D.B. Thakur, director of EDCD. "This year, the number of people suffering from diarrhoea is less than that of last year in the corresponding period."

Last year, 371 people died of diarrhoea, reported The Kathmandu Post daily.

EDCD has formed Community Rapid Response Teams in 20 vulnerable districts to respond immediately to such an outbreak. The Division has also formed rapid response teams in all 75 districts.

[Shiloh]

Re: Nepal 2010 : 20 fatalities

Source: http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/ful...&NewsID=244337

Diarrhoea outbreak fear looms in Mid West
Last Updated : 2010-05-16 11:19 PM
Himalayan News Service

SURKHET: Even as the loss of lives last year due to diarrhoea continues to haunt people, eight districts of the mid western region are still vulnerable to the outbreak, says Mid Western Regional Health Directorate.

According to the directorate, Jajarkot, Rukum, Dailekh, Surkhet, Dolpa, Salyan, Rolpa and Humla could face even worse fate this year than of the last.

Regional Health Director Mohammad Daud claimed that to prevent this year?s potential outbreak, they had maintained adequate stock of medicines and that they have put on hold long-term leave of health workers.

Despite the claim, nine people have already died of diarrhoea. Last year, about 300 people lost their lives owing to the negligence of the directorate.

Alarmed by the death of nine people, Daud appealed to the stakeholders to collaborate in the effort of the directorate for timely prevention of the epidemic.

Saying that water treatment agents like water guard and chlorine have already been sent to vulnerable districts, Daud requested the people to consume pure water and hygienic food. He said geographic remoteness and food scarcity were posing hurdles in disease control efforts.

[Shiloh]

Re: Nepal 2010 : 20 fatalities

Source: http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/in...&news_id=18774


Eight districts 'at high risk' of diarrhea


RSS
NEPALGUNJ, May 18: Eight mid-western districts are at high risk of diarrhea, according to a report.

A study carried out by Regional Health Directorate says Surkhet, Dailekh, Jajarkot, Rukum, Rolpa, Salyan, Kalikot and Mugu are highly vulnerable to diarrhoeal outbreak.

Four persons in Jajarkot, three in Dailekh and two in Rukum have already died of the disease this year, said Regional Health Director Mohammad Daud.

Though the government has put all district health offices on high alert, use of polluted water, lack of sanitation and health awareness are to be blamed for diarrhea spread, the health body said.

Since contaminated water is the main cause of diarrheal outbreak, it is high time to launch a drinking water purification campaign, Daud added.

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Nepal 2010 : 20 fatalities

Nepal: Diarrhoea outbreak calls for proactive approach
Source: International Federation of Red Cross And Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)

Date: 17 May 2010


17 May 2010

By Indra Adhikari, Nepal Red Cross Society, in Kathmandu

In a huge effort to address increasing health risks in central and western Nepal, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the Nepal Red Cross Society are appealing for nearly 740,000 Swiss francs (664,000 US dollars or 527,000 euros) in cash, kind, or services to assist as many as 189,000 people over the next nine months.

With the increase in temperatures over the past few weeks and a scarcity of safe drinking water sources, the number of diarrhoea cases is on the rise in remote areas of the country. There have been 17 deaths so far and 300 cases of infection officially reported to date.

"It's very hard to get food in Khalanga, and even more difficult to get medicine," said Nandakala Thapa, who is grieving the loss of her 20-year-old daughter. She died recently of diarrhoea just after getting married.

The Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS) has been mobilizing volunteer teams to support the efforts of government authorities and humanitarian agencies involved in the water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) cluster to undertake emergency hygiene promotion campaigns and preposition relief supplies.

However, to make a significant impact, these efforts will be scaled up, particularly in those areas of Nepal where NRCS is the only operational organization. Moreover, as the monsoon season is fast approaching, it is likely that a greater number of communities and districts are at risk of a rapid spread of diarrhoea, as has been seen in previous years.

"How can we wait for the outbreak of accute watery diarrhoea (AWD) to claim lives," asked Dev Ratna Dhakhwa, NRCS secretary general. "Our approach should be proactive rather than reactive. Our preventive actions should focus on saving lives and reducing human suffering before it's too late."

International Federation and NRCS operations will ensure early and sustained action to prevent the further spread of diarrhoeal diseases and reduce the risk of potential outbreaks, which in 2009 claimed an estimated 371 lives and affected some 67,000 people. Efforts will be focused on emergency hygiene promotion activities, the prepositioning and distribution of diarrhoea prevention kits and the provision of safe water and sanitation facilities for the most vulnerable communities. This operation builds on the experience of NRCS in responding to last year's diarrhoea outbreak, which emphasized the need to address the long-term chronic needs of communities to prevent recurrences.

In Nepal, health and hygiene services are not effective and, in many cases, are inaccessible to the man on the street. Medical personnel are often not available in remote locations, and because of geographical inaccessibility, it can be very difficult to deliver medical supplies.

Further complicating the health situation, local people in rural Nepal retain strong beliefs in traditional healing practices; and they often avoid seeking help from health workers.

Prevention based on experience

"Without delay, we have to launch water and sanitation campaigns and build latrines in each household," said Sanat Kumar Karki, president of the Nepal Red Cross Society in Jajarkot district. "We are hopeful that if the government and donors help us jointly in raising awareness among our people, the tragic events of the past will not repeat themselves."

In 2009, NRCS mobilized 1,720 volunteers to reach 1.2 million people during the last outbreak of diarrhoea. When visiting vulnerable households, they provided information on how to keep water safe, how to protect water sources from becoming contaminated, how to purify water, and how to prepare an oral rehydration therapy.

They also carried out street dramas and use various channels of mass communication, such as door-to-door visits, relief distributions, material distributions, wall painting, billboards in public places, and providing lessons in schools.

http://ocha-gwapps1.unog.ch/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/EDIS-85JPYZ?OpenDocument

[Shiloh]

Re: Nepal 2010 : 20 fatalities

Source: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english201...c_13309474.htm

Nepal records 20 diarrhea deaths for water-borne diseases
English.news.cn 2010-05-22 12:45:29

KATHMANDU, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Epidemiology and Disease Control Division (EDCD) under the Nepali Ministry of Health and Population, has so far recorded 20 diarrhea deaths due to water-borne diseases this year.

According to Saturday's The Himalayan Times daily, Dr Vishwo Raj Khanal, senior public health officer at EDCD said no outbreak had been recorded as yet. But with continued increase in temperature, scarcity of safe drinking water and lack of proper sanitation, there were some cases of water-borne diseases.

According to EDCD, 20 people out of 441 infected with diarrhea died last month in remote districts of the mid and far-western regions.

Khanal said that they had recorded less number of people suffering from water borne diseases in comparison to the same period last year.

While government records put the death toll between mid-April to mid-October last year at 366, non-governmental organizations recorded 394 deaths for the same period.

EDCD has formed Community Rapid Response Teams in 20 vulnerable districts to respond immediately to any outbreak. The Division has also formed rapid response teams nationwide.
Editor: Lu Hui

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Nepal 2010 : 20 fatalities

Some recent articles in reverse order;

Diarrhoea claims two in Jajarkot
KANTIPUR REPORT
JAJARKOT, JUL 11 -

Two people died of diarrhoea in Jajarkot district on Sunday. One-and-half-year-old Niruta Oli of Khalanga-7 and Bijula Budha, 45, of Archhane-2 died of the waterborne disease, police said.

According to the family members, the victims who were suffering from the disease died before taking to hospital.

More than 200 people lost their lives due to an outbreak of diarrhoea epidemic in the district last year. The disease starts taking toll this year as well despite the claim of District Public Health Office of arranging necessary measures to contain the disease.

http://www.ekantipur.com/2010/07/11/top-story/diarrhoea-claims-two-in-jajarkot/318282/

Parbat in diarrhoea grip
KANTIPUR REPORT
PARBAT, JUL 02 - Hundreds of people were taken ill in Parbat district headquarters Kushma and six other adjoining VDCs following an outbreak of diarrhoea.

According to locals, contaminated water in Pati and Kyadi streams, the main water sources in the area, spread the disease. In a family alone, four members have fallen ill due to the waterborne disease.

Dr. Sunil Poudel of Parbat District Hospital said the flow of diarrhoea patients is on the rise. ?Of late, 20 to 30 diarrhoea patients visit the hospital daily for treatment,? he said.

Private hospitals and clinics are also crowded with diarrhoea patients.

As many as 60 patients daily visit these health institutions for treatment. Om Prasad Upadhyay, a Kushma local, said the disease can turn into the epidemic like that of Jajarkot last year if it not controlled immediately.

District Health Officer Dr. Sagar Raj Bhandari said health workers are starting an awareness campaign from Friday in view of the increasing number of diarrhoea patients.

http://www.ekantipur.com/2010/07/02/related-news/Parbat-in-diarrhoea-grip/317676/

Diarrhoea claims minor in Dang
KANTIPUR REPORT
DANG, JUN 29 -

A minor died from diarrhoea in Dang district on Tuesday morning.

One Sapana Basnet, 4, of Tarigaun VDC-2 died while undergoing treatment at the Rapti Zonal Hospital.

Deceased Basnet who had been admitted at the hospital after suffering from diarrhoea, died at around 8 this morning.

http://www.ekantipur.com/2010/06/29/national/diarrhoea-claims-minor-in-dang/317483/

Diarrhoea claims three in Bajhang
KANTIPUR REPORT
BAJHANG, JUN 13 -

Three people, including two minors, died of diarrhoea in Mashta and Kotdebal VDCs in Bajhang district in the past week.

One-and-a-half-year-old Ranjit Dhami and three-year-old Dipak Kathayat of Mashta died of the disease in course of treatment, Bajhang District Hospital said.

Namita Shahi, a resident of Kotdebal, also died of the disease. Dr. Ram Bahadur K.C. at the district hospital said locals in Mashta, Kotdebal, Chainpur, Rithapata, Hemantabada and Bhatekhola VDCs, among others, have been suffering from diarrhoea for one month.

According to the hospital, diarrhoea claimed eight lives in the district last year.

http://www.ekantipur.com/2010/06/13/top-story/diarrhoea-claims-three-in-bajhang/316320/

Diarrhoea patients on rise in Bhaktapur
KANTIPUR REPORT
KATHMANDU, MAY 30 - The soaring temperature and scarcity of drinking water has led to sharp increase in the number of diarrhoea cases in Bhaktapur over the past two weeks.

As a result of this, Bhaktapur Hospital and private clinics are receiving increasing flow of patients suffering from the disease.

The number of patients visiting Bhaktapur Hospital has shot up by 50 percent, said hospital?s official Arjun Budathoki. ?Two weeks ago, around 10 diarrhoea patients used to visit

the hospital daily, but the flow has increased to 30 nowadays.?

According to Budathoki, the number of diarrhoea patients has increased by 10 percent this compared to the last year. Besides rising mercury, Dr. Manju Shrestha of Suryavinak Polyclinic held religious festivities responsible for increasing the number of patients. ?The Newar community organises several religious functions in summer. They cook varieties of dishes and eat as part of keeping tradition alive during this time,? she said.

Doctors say consumption of contaminated water and food cause diarrhoea. Dr. Shrestha also said during festive seasons, people cook more and they store the leftovers without following the safety measures, thereby increasing risks of communicable diseases like diarrhoea.

http://www.ekantipur.com/2010/05/30/top-story/diarrhoea-patients-on-rise-in-bhaktapur/315354/