Cold and flu patients up in Humla

By Rajan Rawat,Humla, Feb. 6: The incidence of individuals suffering from cold and fever has risen across all seven rural municipalities within the Humla district. This increase has coincided with the snowfall occurring on January 24, which has contributed to the escalation of cold-related ailments. 

Prakash Aidi, a local resident, reported that for the past three days, residents of Rahadev village in Sarkegad Rural Municipality-8 have been experiencing symptoms such as cold, fever, and headache. He further noted that these ailments are present in every household throughout the village. Similarly, he mentioned that residents of Phucha village in the same ward are also affected.

Despite the fact that 77 patients in the aforementioned village are suffering from cough, fever, and headache, the Rahadev Basic Health Service Centre had to organise a medical camp to provide treatment, according to the centre’s coordinator, Surya Bahadur Aidi. 

He explained that on a single day, treatment was administered to three children, 45 women, and 21 men. Instead of patients traveling to the health centre, a treatment camp was established in the village, facilitating immediate care.

The health centre further stated that similar cases of cold, fever, and headache were observed in Phucha village on the following Thursday. Consequently, another team of healthcare workers was dispatched from the centre to start treatment. The health department of Sarkegad Rural Municipality indicated that similar patient cases are prevalent in other wards within the municipality.

Meanwhile, Dhanraj Dhakal, Chief of the Rural Municipality Health Department, reported an increase in cases of cold, fever, and headache across all five wards of Tanjakot Rural Municipality. He emphasised the heightened patient influx into healthcare facilities. Additionally, the health departments of Adanchuli, Chankheli, Kharpunath, and Namkha rural municipalities confirmed a recent surge in such cases, with an increasing number of patients visiting hospitals for treatment.

Furthermore, an escalation in cold and fever cases has been observed at the district hospital. Dr. Bhim Budha stated that the hospital has experienced a 15 per cent rise in these cases compared to previous periods, along with a higher number of asthma patients. The hospital has issued a warning to district residents to maintain caution, as the prevalence of seasonal influenza and related illnesses continues to increase due to the ongoing cold weather.