As many as 104 patients are found suffering from swine flue (Influenza ‘A’ H1N1) in the western region. Of them, 86 patients are from Kaski alone, according to the District Public Health Office (DPHO).

The Western Regional Hospital had collected blood and sputum samples of 228 patients from the hospital and sent them to Kathmandu for lab tests. The National Public Health Laboratory in Teku confirmed that 104 tested positive for swine flu.

Yam Baral, vector control inspector at the DPHO, said the samples were collected between January until last Friday. “Three people died of swine flue in Pokhara,” said Baral.

Organising a press meet on Monday, the District Coordination Committee said that swine flu turned into an epidemic in the metropolis. Many of the patients are undergoing treatment at Pokhara-based hospitals.

Cough, fever, headache, sore throat, muscle pain, vomiting or diarrhoea are common symptoms of swine flu. Doctors have said if anyone develops one of these symptoms, he/she should immediately seek medical attention.

Death toll from swine flu over the past two weeks has reached nine across the country, according to reports from district public health offices. Swine flu this season was first detected in Waling, Syangja after a person from the district died last month at the TU Teaching Hospital in Kathmandu where he had been brought for treatment.

At least 30 people have succumbed to the disease in Nepal since 2009.

Two die of scrub typhus, 3 others critical

Kathmandu: Two people, including an 8-year-old girl, have died from scrub typhus in Dhankuta and Chitwan districts over the past four days.

The girl from Khalsa Chintang Sahidbhumi Rural Municipality and three others from Parkhibas Municipality in Dhankuta tested positive for the disease.

Dr Madan Kumar Upadhyay, senior medical superintendent of the District Hospital, Dhankuta, the girl died of scrub typhus and three children had tested positive. The girl died during the course of treatment at the Dharan-based BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences three days ago, he said.

A 24-year-old woman, was undergoing treatment in Narayani Community Hospital, died of scrub typhus on Sunday, said Ram Kumar KC, Kit Control Inspector at the District Public Health Office, Chitwan. According to the DPHO, 75 people were found to have been suffering from the disease.

The disease is prevalent mostly among children as they have weak immune system. Fever, headache and measles-like rash around the neck are the common symptoms of the disease. (PR)

Viral fever claims one in Achham

ACHHAM: A 58-year-old Motiram Bhat died of viral fever at Kalekada in Panchade-bal Binayak Municipality-9, Achham on Monday.

Prajapati Jaisi, a local man, said Bhat had been suffering from viral fever for the last nine days. Jaisi said Bhat was taken to Dailekh-based medical as there were no medicines in Kalekada health post.  However, Dhan Bahadur Pun Magar, in charge of the health post, denied the allegation saying that people in the village rely on private medicals rather than the health post.