KATHMANDU, Aug 8: Cholera was confirmed in two additional people in Lalitpur on Wednesday. The infection has been spreading for the past two weeks in the district. According to the District Health Office, Lalitpur, both individuals are currently receiving treatment at Kist Medical College.
The new cases include an 86-year-old woman from Satdobato in Lalitpur Metropolis and a 45-year-old man from Dhobighat. With these latest infections, the total number of cholera cases in Lalitpur has risen to 26. Across the country, 37 people have been affected by the outbreak.
Geeta Acharya, Liaison Officer of the District Public Health Office, stated that initial investigations revealed that the elderly woman claimed to have consumed boiled water, while the man reported drinking bottled water.
Acharya said that despite these claims of drinking safe water, cholera might have been contracted through contaminated food, such as fruits or salad, or due to poor personal hygiene. While cholera in other districts remains under control, the situation in Lalitpur is unresolved.
Cholera cases in Lalitpur were previously sporadic, primarily occurring in areas outside Godavari. Dr Bhuwan Paudel, head of the District Health Office, suggested that contamination of kitchen water might be a major factor in the spread. He indicated that even if bottled water was used for drinking, tap water used in kitchens has become contaminated due to the recent rains. Vibrio cholerae, the bacteria causing the disease, was found in collected water samples, indicating contamination from fecal matter.
Paudel said that some of the sporadic cases might have resulted from contaminated water and food. He advised using only boiled water wherever possible, as all water sources in Lalitpur and surrounding areas have become contaminated. Additionally, he recommended washing fruits and salads with boiled or purified water before consumption.