Even as four more persons died in Doti due to diarrhea on Sunday, the health ministry has claimed the diarrhea and cholera epidemic in the mid and far western districts has come under control.
Issuing a press statement Sunday, the ministry said, the epidemic in mid and far western regions had been fully controlled in all but two districts. The epidemic in Rukum and Doti is almost controlled, the statement adds.
Four more persons, Chandra Devi Kami, 50, and Saila Kami, 54, of Chandradevi in Nuwakot VDC-6, Paharam Bhandari, 70, of Gajari VDC-9, and Harina Devi Rokaya of Thapali VDC-4 died after suffering from a serious bout of diarrhea in impoverished Doti district on Sunday, taking the death toll in the district to 13.
Reports said that the health posts are understaffed and lack enough medicines, as in other diarrhea-hit districts. On top of that, some locals are said to be not taking the patients who have fallen ill due to diarrhea to the health posts for fears of contracting the disease themselves.
The health ministry has also said, medicine worth Rs 29.5 million was dispatched to the affected area and about 60,000 patients of 19 districts were treated.
According to the statement, the epidemic claimed 321 lives since April, with 154 deaths in Jajarkot alone.
The government has so far not come up with any concrete reasons why the disease has turned into an epidemic. nepalnews.com

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