Measles Outbreak Controlled in Dhorpatan After Two Months

-Dhorpatan (Baglung)- The outbreak of measles in Dhorpatan Municipality wards 7, 8, and 9, which began on February 20, is gradually coming under control.

Efforts to control the outbreak involved a team from the World Health Organization, the Provincial Public Health Office, and local health workers, who conducted a study in the affected areas and initiated a vaccination campaign.

The situation started improving after vaccinations were administered to children and adolescents in the area from March 13 to March 16.

Before the vaccination drive, the hospital was receiving 10 to 15 suspected measles cases daily. However, in the past eight days, only one suspected case from Nisikhola Rural Municipality was admitted to Burtibang Hospital, according to Praveen Sharma, head of the Provincial Public Health Office.

A total of 239 suspected cases had been reported. Testing of samples from 34 individuals at the National Public Health Laboratory in Kathmandu confirmed measles infection in 14 cases, Sharma said.

Raju Khatri, the immunization supervisor at the Provincial Public Health Office, reported that so far, 6,140 children and teenagers aged 10 to 19 have been vaccinated. He also noted that all but one of the suspected cases have recovered.