19 cholera cases in Ktm,5 die of diarrhea !!!!!!

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BY SANGEETA RIJAL
KATHMANDU, June 28 - With the monsoon rains contaminating drinking water, coupled with increased consumption of unhygienic pavement food, 19 people have been infected with cholera in less than three months, according to the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division.
The Division also said five people died of diarrhea, while thousands of others have been affected by water borne infections.
"This spread is basically due to contaminated water," Dr. Manas Kumar Banarjee, director of the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division told the Post. "Early monsoon has exacerbated the situation."
Dr. Banarjee says that 70 percent of the infection is through contaminated water and the rest due to open and unhygienic food, sold by vendors, such as soda water, Pani Puri and pre cut fruits, among others. The best thing to keep the infection at bay, according to him, is to drink treated and/or boiled water and avoid open food sold by vendors.
According to the division, four hospitals of the valley -- Kanti Children's, Patan, Martyr Sukraraj Tropical at Teku and Bhaktapur -- reported that 2,023 people suffered diarrhea from mid-April to date. Out of them, Kanti has confirmed 19 cases as cholera. Bhaktapur has reported two cases of suspected cholera. Two people died in Teku, while three in Kanti.
Dr. Banarjee also confirmed that 1,154 people suffered from diarrhea in Kalikot district, of whom 45 died.
Similarly, there are two suspected deaths (due to diarrhea) in Chandranigahapur, while 397 are suffering from the infection. Likewise, among 10 cases of diarrhea from Rautahat district, who were tested at the National Public Health Laboratory, five were confirmed with cholera.
According to Dr Banarjee, the recent transfer and promotions of health officials also hindered in the functioning of the health workers in health institutions, due to which more people suffered.
The division has arranged five reserve medical officers for each of the five development regions for next three months to deal with the epidemic. Similarly, the ministry has formed a committee that includes several stakeholders like Epidemiology Division, Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Nepal Water Supply Corporation, NGOs, INGOs among others. "We have also directed regional hospitals to remain prepared to deal with the problem that can spread or break out anytime," he warned.