Fever, common cold panic among Myagdi folks

Gopal Chhantyal

MYAGDI: With the swine flu panic gripping the district, health facilities here have been overflowed with patients of common cold, fever and headache.

District dwellers have been filled with foreboding following the spread of the flu virus in neighbouring Parbat district a few days ago.

To add to their woes, more than 230 students of various schools complained of common cold and tonsil today. Many patients of common cold, fever and tonsils thronged the District Hospital (DH) since morning due to the fear of swine flu today.

Dr Lal Bahadur Malla revealed that 172 patients of common cold visited the hospital yesterday while the number crossed 200 today. Doctor Malla further added that they had been spreading awareness among locals about the precautions through local FM stations, tabloids and other means.

Earlier, Private and Boarding School Organisation Nepal in the district had decided to shut the schools for three days beginning Sunday after more than 1,000 students complained of headache and common cold.

Amid such a situation, a meeting of authorities concerned and the medical team of that arrived here from the capital discussed the necessary preparedness to tackle the situation and prevent the spreading.

Dr Bishworaj Khanal, the team leader, urged the local residents to opt for precautions such as washing hands with soap, using masks, staying indoors , among others.

Dr Khanal said that people were terrorised due to the wrong information disseminated about the disease. "The symptoms of the diseases have been changing,'' he said, adding, "One should not be scared as the symptoms seen in Nepal are not that life threatening.''

He, however, urged the locals to be cautious to stop further spreading of the pandemic. According to him, they would collect samples of saliva from the patients of Myagdi and Baglung for tests.

According to DH sources, symptoms of headache, fever, common cold are reported among the locals of Bhurung and Tatopani areas.

Due to the panic, a local fair scheduled on the occasion of Balachaturdashi has also been called off. Chitra Bahadur KC, chairman of the fair organising committee said that they had decided to call off the fair.