Province's Health Minister arrives at Diplung to take stock of mass illness

Khotang, Feb 9: A team including Koshi Province government’s Health Minister Man Bahadur Limbu and medical experts arrived at Jantedhunga rural municipality–6 in Khotang to take stock of the mass illness. Those who attended a marriage feast in the district fell sick en masse.

Even the bride and groom were affected.

They developed symptoms such as fever, seizures, diarrhea and vomiting after 12 hours of the feast they relished. The team arrived in Diplung. Although a health camp had been established at the private residence of Ram Kumar Rai in Diplung, the province government team was summoned fearing increased pressure from patients, said Chief of the Health Office, Khotang, Kul Bahadur Paudel.

Medical experts Dr Ramhari Regmi and Dr Santosh Rai are heading separate teams and will remain in Diplung to provide treatment to the patients for the next few days. Paudel said they hope the situation will return normal within a few days. Health professionals have suspected food poisoning among those who attended the wedding reception on February 4.

According to Rural municipality Chair Aruna Devi Rai, reports are that guests who had come from Udayapur, Dharan, and Kathmandu also fell ill after returning to their respective places.

It is estimated that over 350 people attend the party. Presently, 60 patients have been admitted to the health camp set up by the local government. Some patients are revisiting the camp with recurring symptoms, such as stomach pain and loose motion. (RSS)