Hundreds of flood-affected people are suffering from fever, common cold, diarrhoea, headache and skin infection in Rautahat, Parsa and Bara districts.

Local authorities are running medical camps in the flood-hit areas, and health officials have found that most of the sick are those who have been living in temporary shelters after their homes were destroyed by floods. 

In Rautahat, viral infections and diseases have mostly affected the flood survivors of Phatuwa, Katahariya, Laukaha, Narkatiya, Rajpur, Mahadevpatti, Bhramhapuri and Gaurigaun areas.

Dr Lochan Karki, who was involved in one of the medical camps in a flood-affected village, said water contamination, poor hygiene and exposure to elements were the main causes of disease outbreaks. In Parsa, majority of the flood-affected areas are under the grip of viral diseases. Prakash Tharu, who is involved in relief works, said fever, common cold, diarrhoea and skin infections were common among flood survivors.

People of Bhakra Masihani, Madhuwaha and Dharmapur have been hit hard, with several postpartum mothers, pregnant women, disabled people and senior citizens suffering from various diseases.

Dr Udaya Narayan Singh of Narayani Sub-regional Hospital said nearly 80 percent of flood survivors were diagnosed with some form of viral illness at the medical camps run by the hospital at the flood-affected areas recently.

 Many flood survivors in Bara are also down with viral infections and diseases.

 Udaya Nepal, chief of Bara Red Cross Society, said contaminated water was the main reason behind disease outbreaks in the flood-hit areas of the district.