Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has pledged that his government will step up measures to curb the spread of cholera as cases rise in Birgunj.
Addressing the House of Representatives’ meeting in late August, Oli vowed that his administration will mobilise doctors and health equipment to prevent and control cholera epidemic in Birgunj, the Rising Nepal reported.
He added that treatment for cholera patients will be provided free of charge at Narayani Hospital and other medical institutions, alongside initiatives to raise public awareness.
Authorities have also launched an investigation to identify the source of the outbreak and halt the surge in cases.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: First case of screwworm infection in human detected in Maryland, US health dept confirms
Birgunj witnesses worst outbreak since 2009
According to the Health Office in Parsa, 821 individuals from various wards of the metropolis and nearby local units and districts had been hospitalised with diarrhoeal infections as of August 31.
Aside from the mounting cases, government data showed that the death toll from cholera increased to four after a 37-year-old man from Bara district passed away at the Narayani Hospital in Birgunj, the Kathmandu Post reported.
Local health authorities also noted that the majority of the cases have been reported from wards 3, 11, 12, 13 and 16 of the Birgunj Metropolitan City.
Public health experts noted that the Birgunj outbreak is the largest since Jajarkot in 2009, which saw a major cholera outbreak that claimed several lives and infected hundreds, underscoring the urgency of the situation.
Cholera spreads beyond Birgunj
Cholera has also spread in neighbouring areas such as Pokhara and Kalaiya, fuelling further concern, according to health authorities.
In Pokhara, at least 13 people tested positive as of August 28, while several others in Kalaiya reported diarrhoeal infections, though the exact number of confirmed cases was not specified.
Dr. Prakash Budhathoki, spokesperson at the Ministry of Health and Population, noted that people are still getting infected even though the pace of the spread of cholera has notably slowed, underscoring the urgency of the situation.
WHO, health ministry launch joint intervention
A team comprising representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO), the Health Ministry, and the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division (EDCD) has begun supporting provincial and local authorities.
“Medicines have been supplied from the provincial health directorate and all necessary measures have been taken to control the outbreak. The expert team has started its work in close co-ordination with provincial and local health authorities,” said EDCD director Dr. Chandra Bhal Jha.
Health authorities added that door-to-door campaigns and awareness drives have been launched, urging residents to boil water and avoid raw food from markets to prevent cholera transmission.
However, health authorities admitted that containing the outbreak remains challenging despite ongoing control measures.
Calls to improve sanitation, hygiene
Public health experts stressed that the government must urgently improve sanitation and hygiene to reduce cholera cases and prevent future outbreaks.
The experts also called on the authorities not to conceal or neglect these serious problems since its will cost hundreds or thousands of lives in the long-term.
“We have neglected water and sanitation issues and recurring diarrhoeal and cholera outbreaks. Outbreaks of diarrhoeal diseases, including cholera are directly linked to drinking water, sanitation and hygiene conditions,” said Dr. Baburam Marasaini, a former director at the EDCD.
They warned that risk of waterborne diseases will not decline until Nepal’s water and sanitation conditions improve and residents get access to safe drinking water.
Nepal vulnerable to water-bone diseases
Experts noted that Nepal is highly vulnerable to waterborne diseases during the monsoon season due to poor sanitation and gaps in healthcare preparedness.
“This is a serious public health emergency. This incident exposes critical gaps in the government’s preparedness and response system,” Marasaini said.
Last year, Nepal recorded 95 cholera cases across Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Kailali, Pyuthan, Makawanpur, Rolpa, Sindhupalchok, Accham and Rautahat districts.
According to WHO, cholera is an acute diarrhoeal infection caused by ingesting food or water contaminated with Vibrio cholerae. If untreated, it can cause severe dehydration and death within hours.
READ NEXT: BTS’ Jin breaks record for Asian solo artist tour with over USD32mn gross
Angelica N. Hall 
Shameeka Voyiya 
Carmela Calling