Birgunj, A cholera outbreak has begun spreading rapidly across Birgunj Metropolitan City, with cases reported in multiple wards since last Friday. Health authorities are scrambling to contain the spread, though the primary source of the outbreak remains unidentified.

79 Confirmed Cases So Far

According to Jaymod Thakur, Public Health Officer at the Parsa Health Office, 79 cholera patients have been confirmed in Birgunj.As of Sunday evening (8:00 pm), 71 cases were reported.By Monday morning, an additional eight cases were confirmed. Currently, 103 patients are under treatment in various hospitals.

“We are coordinating with the World Health Organization (WHO), which has been conducting water testing and other field assessments since Sunday,” Thakur said. “We expect to identify the outbreak source soon.”

Hospitals Struggling With Patient Load

Dr. Uday Narayan Singh, spokesperson for Narayani Hospital, reported that 30 patients were admitted to the hospital by Sunday.“We are facing shortages of both beds and medical personnel for cholera treatment,” Singh said.
He added that frontline staff are overwhelmed, managing not only cholera but also other emergencies such as snakebites, fevers, and paralysis cases.

Singh criticized the lack of on-ground support:

“No agency has yet provided the necessary assistance. Most of the help is limited to paperwork, while our hospital staff are overstretched.”

Hospital-Wise Breakdown of Cases

Narayani Hospital – 26 cases confirmed

Tarai Hospital – 25 cases

National Medical College – 9 cases

Bhawani Hospital – 3 cases

Birgunj Health Care, Ali Arth Hospital, Manglam Pathology – 2 cases each

An additional eight patients were confirmed on Monday morning, though their hospital details have not yet been released.

WHO Involvement and Next Steps

Representatives from the World Health Organization are currently conducting detailed water quality testing. Preliminary reports are expected in the coming days, which may shed light on the contamination source fueling the outbreak.

Local health authorities have urged residents to:

Use safe drinking water

Practice good hygiene and sanitation

Seek immediate medical care in case of diarrhea, vomiting, or dehydration