Nepal-Flu patients seek help

Last Updated : 2009-07-02 2:45 PM

Govinda Chhetri

JHAPA: Three of the seven persons, one of whom is a woman, who had accompanied the three swine flu infected persons while coming to Nepal from the US about a week ago, have come into contact of District Public Health Office (DPHO) Jhapa on Thursday.
Of the seven persons, five have reportedly entered their hometown in Jhapa district, causing panic among the district folks. The seven Jhapalis had come from the US via Qatar’s Doha transit along with other swine flu infected persons on January 22.
According to the Jhapa DPHO, two of those come into its contact are found in sound health while another one is suffering from sore throat. The three are the residents of Haldibari, Sharanamati and Garamani of the district.
Nawaraj Subba, Jhapa DPHO chief, said the trio were under their strict surveillance. “The third one suffering from the sore throat has been instructed to be cautious while living with his family,” Subba said.
The DPHO clarified that one of the seven persons has been staying in Kathmandu. Three persons have not yet been found living in their addresses — Jhapa’s Damak and Surunga — as mentioned in their citizenship certificates and records at immigration department. “When the persons were not found in their addresses, the Jhapa folks’ terror has been compounded,” said managing director of the local Kanchanjungha FM, Chandra Bhandari. Jhapa president of Single Woman Organisation,
Gita Budhathoki, said, “I don’t know much about the swine flu. However,
the rumour has been terrorizing me.”
“The authorities should come up with effective preventive measures to contain the possible spread,” suggested Chintamani Dahal, chief of Mechi Multiple Campus, Bhadrapur.