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Cholera outbreak in Nepal under control, says WHO

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    NEPALGUNJ
    The World Health Organization (WHO) says a cholera outbreak that struck 1,400 people in mid-western Nepal and resulted in eight deaths - including at least five children - is now under control.

    The outbreak in Nepalgunj, a city on the border with India, started around 28 July, said Nirmal Kandel, epidemiologist and national professional officer with WHO. "After about five days [from 28 July], the cases started to decline. It was cholera. It was controlled by 13-14 August. Diarrhoea is endemic, and it's now at the endemic level. I cannot say there are no cases, but there's no outbreak. It's at the normal routine level."

    Nepal is nearing the end of its monsoon season, during which time diarrhoea-related illnesses normally spike because of contaminated water sources.

    "The problem you'll find now is gastrointestinal - diarrhoea, dysentery - because of the rainy season," said Ravi Kafle, surveillance medical officer for WHO in Nepalgunj. "The number of cases [from the cholera outbreak] has decreased by a great extent and there have been no more casualties."

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    This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

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