06/25/2009, 00.00
NEPAL
Send to a friend

Swine flu alert on Nepal’s borders with India and China

by Kalpit Parajuli
Nepali authorities had announced a special programme to stop the spread of the A-H1N1 virus, but on many border posts instructions and specialised staff have not yet arrived. Health Ministry tries to be reassuring, saying that it is ready top meet the challenge and that delays are due to recent instability caused by the appointment of the new government.

Kathmandu (AsiaNews) – People living along Nepal’s borders are on alert for the swine flu. As a result of the growing number of A-H1N1 cases reported in neighbouring China and India, residents in Nepal’s border regions are increasingly concerned, many accusing the government in Kathmandu of not taking measures to prevent the spread of the virus into the mountain nation.

About two months ago the director of the District Disease Control did announce the setting up of special health desks to monitor border points for swine flu. However, not much has been done yet.

Mahendra Chaudhary, acting chief of the District Public Health Office in Kakarbhitta (Jhapa district), said that he was still waiting for instructions.

Premchandra Jaisawal, point person for the Swine Flu Programme in the District Public Health Office in Raxaul (Parsa), also said that control measures had not been tightened.

In the districts of Morang and Rupandehi people are more optimistic and expect personnel from the Swine Flu Programme to come very soon. But with about 5,000 people crossing into Nepal from India every day, concern is warranted.

In neighbouring India authorities the State of Bihar (which borders on Nepal) have already mobilised Rapid Response Teams to conduct regular checks.

In China at least 441 people have already tested positive for the virus; another 68 have been infected in India.

“We are working for such prevention not only on bordering areas but also at some of the major transit points, including airport,” the Secretary to the Health Ministry Dhirgha Singh Bam said.

“We are a bit late because of the new government formation. The new Minister will surely take some initiative in this regard,” he added.

The new government was set up after former Prime Minister Prachanda resigned in early May and has been slow in achieving the necessary stability to get down to work.

TAGs
Send to a friend
Printable version
CLOSE X
See also
Swine flu: China shuts border with Nepal
21/05/2009
Swine Flu: Hong Kong closes all primary schools and nurseries
11/06/2009
CELRA: For Bishop Marcuzzo, as a community, the Church is stronger than the pandemic
21/10/2021 17:59
Discovered in India seven plants that produce the agent of against the swine fever
24/08/2009
Swine flu: in India cities are on the verge of panic as the virus spreads further around the world
18/08/2009


Newsletter

Subscribe to Asia News updates or change your preferences

Subscribe now
“L’Asia: ecco il nostro comune compito per il terzo millennio!” - Giovanni Paolo II, da “Alzatevi, andiamo”