Measles outbreak in Dhorpatan under control following vaccination drive

Baglung. The measles outbreak that spread across wards 7, 8, and 9 of Dhorpatan Municipality on Falgun 8 has begun to come under control.

A team comprising the World Health Organization, the Provincial Public Health Office, and local health workers conducted a study in the affected areas and launched a vaccination campaign. The infection began to subside after children and adolescents in the region were vaccinated between Falgun 29 and Chaitra 2.

Prior to the vaccination drive, 10 to 15 suspected measles patients were visiting the hospital daily. According to Provincial Public Health Office Chief Pravin Sharma, only one suspected patient from Nisikhola Rural Municipality has been admitted to Burtibang Hospital in the last eight days. A total of 239 suspected cases were reported. Sharma stated that samples from 34 patients were sent to the National Public Health Laboratory in Kathmandu, with 14 cases confirmed as measles.

Vaccine supervisor Raju Khatri of the Provincial Public Health Office reported that 6,140 children and adolescents aged 10 to 19 have been vaccinated so far. He added that all but one of the suspected patients have recovered.