Lab test has confirmed influenza AH3 as well as influenza B in sputum samples collected from flu patients of Khadachakra Municipality in Kalikot district.

The National Public Health Laboratory in Kathmandu has confirmed influenza virus AH3 in four samples and influenza virus B in two samples, Dr Kaushal Ali of Kalikot District Health Office (DHO) said on Thursday.

Flu epidemic in Khadachakra has killed eight villagers, including three children, in the past three weeks. More than 1,100 people were infected in wards 2 and 4 of Khadachakra.   

Dr Ali claimed that the epidemic has been completely contained in Khadachakra-2 while 90 per cent of the patients in Khadachakra-4 have been treated as of Thursday.   

Acting Chief District Officer Raj Kumar Dulal also said that the DHO is taking necessary measures to bring the flu under control. 

People in some of the affected areas, however, said that health workers have still not reached their settlements.

They also decried the shortage of medicines at local health facilities.

Khadga Bishwokarma of Chiure settlement in Khadachakra-4 said they  are compelled to travel to the district headquarters to buy medicines because the government-run health facilities are without essential medicines for a long time.

Jajarkot flu toll reaches 15

A six-month-old baby boy died of viral flu at Junichande Rural Municipality-3 in Jajarkot on Thursday, pushing the flu toll in the area to 15.  Ram Bahadur Nepali, the ward chairman of the rural municipality, said the baby died in course of treatment at a clinic in Sanakhola.