Measles outbreak grips Banke

BY OUR CORRESPONDENT,Nepalgunj, Jan. 9: The measles epidemic, which initially spread in Nepalgunj Sub-Metropolitan City, has now started spreading to other municipalities of the district as well. After Nepalgunj, measles has been confirmed in children of Khajura Rural Municipality. 

So far, 63 children have been diagnosed with measles and one child from Nepalgunj-5 has died of the disease, according to the District Health Office, Banke. Measles, which was detected in four children of Nepalgunj-7 a week ago, has now spread to 62 children and one child from Khajura to 63. 

Naresh Shrestha, officer at the District Health Office, Banke, said that the number of people affected by measles is expected to increase as many children in Nepalgunj, Khajura and Kohalpur are still showing symptoms of fever and rashes in the body. Stating that measles is spreading rapidly, he said the prevention campaign has also been intensified to control it. 

Officer Shrestha, who is also the vaccination focal person at the Health Office, Banke, said that the vaccination campaign has been intensified in Nepalgunj Ward No. 5, 7 and 8. More than 1,300 children of these wards have been vaccinated against measles rubella in two days and the campaign is still going on, he added.

Preparations are underway to vaccinate children of other wards and other municipalities where measles has been detected, according to the Health Office, Banke. According to the office, 62 children who have been diagnosed with measles are being treated at home under the supervision of health workers. Most of them are recovering as well, the office said.  

Nepalgunj Sub-Metropolitan City has also intensified the process of identifying and vaccinating children from six months to below 15 years. 

According to Ram Bahadur Chand, chief of Health Section of the Sub-Metropolitan City, the work of searching, testing and counseling suspected patients is going on continuously by mobilising health workers in different wards of the municipality. Chand said that measles has spread in 10 out of 23 wards of Nepalgunj. On the other hand, after the outbreak of measles in children, local doctors have advised parents to take special care of children.