Jajarkot viral fever yet to be controlled, even three weeks into the epidemic

-Hemanta KC 
Jajarkot,  Viral fever that is taking its toll at Junichande rural municipality in the district is yet to be contained, even around three weeks into the epidemic. So far 12 persons died of the disease in the district, while more than 2,000 people have taken ill, health workers said. The latest victim of the disease is 54-year-old Lal Bahadur Bhandari of Junichande rural municipality-3, who died on Tuesday morning. 
The failure to reach the patients at their door-steps with health workers and medicines is a matter of concern. 
The patients are being treated at health camps, far away from the affected villages, and the patients cannot reach the health camps on their own, said a local resident. "Neither there is anyone to help them reach the camps, as almost all members of a family have fallen ill." 
"The patients should be injected with medicines, as oral medicines are not working. A team of five doctors with syringes and medicines have left for the affected Junichande rural municipality," said the district public health office chief Ram Bahadur Nepali. 
Upon suspicion that the two kids may have died of influenza A (H1N1) virus on Monday, samples of their cough and sigan have been sent to the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division, Teku, Kathmandu, said Dr Pawan Shakya involved in the treatment of the patients. 
If the suspicion is proved, the viral fever is turned into pandemic, he said. 
The disease is spreading to other neighbouring villages too. More than 700 patients with the disease have been treated so far, and more than 2,000 have taken ill, said health workers. 
An additional team of doctors and health workers with medicines has been dispatched to the affected area, said Nepali. The health worker's team is led by Dr Bhupendra Prakash Malla. 
Already a 10-member team of health workers and a doctor, and a health worker's team of Nepal Army are attending to the patients. 
---