Five more children have been confirmed to have measles in Bobang village of Dhorpatan Municipality. The National Public Health Laboratory confirmed five more cases of measles on Friday, said Pravin Sharma, head of the Provincial Public Health Office, Baglung.

Measles has been detected in children from Dhorpatan Municipality-7, 8 and 9 while the campaign to eradicate measles and rubella from the country by 2026 is underway. The rate of infection among children has been increasing across the village.

After sporadic cases were reported last week, eight people were tested and one person was confirmed by the National Public Health Laboratory. Six children, including the five added on Friday, have been confirmed to have measles. “Many children across the village have been found to be infected with this disease, so we are providing intensive treatment services,” said Sharma. “Immediately, 50 beds will be added to Burtiwang Hospital to provide intensive treatment.” He said that 50 beds have been requested from the Gandaki Provincial Government for this purpose. On Friday, Sharma, along with Dr. Sandeep KC, a pediatrician at Dhaulagiri Provincial Hospital, and other doctors have reached and provided the first phase of treatment.

A team of health workers, including doctors, is reaching Burtiwang with 20 beds on Saturday. ‘Fever, cold and body rashes have been seen in sick children across the village,’ Sharma said, ‘An investigation is also underway to find out how this became a problem.’ After this incident, a team of experts from the World Health Organization is also preparing to come here. However, he said that the team will arrive in Dhorpatan only on Sunday as the election code of conduct has prevented it.

Senior Tuberculosis Inspector of the office, Dev Prakash Ghimire, said that this is seen as a public health problem. Children are at home as schools are currently closed. He said that the problem will be reduced if the infection can be prevented before the schools open. ‘Essential medicines, masks and needles are being collected, and health workers have also been mobilized for treatment,’ said Ghimire, ‘Children will be treated by setting up isolation in hospitals and health posts.’ Health workers at local health posts, including Bhumishwar Sharma, the head of the municipal health branch, are also currently deployed for regular treatment.

Sharma, the head of the provincial public health office, said that preliminary investigations found that a child from Nisikhola had gone to Bobang village in Dhorpatan to visit relatives last December. ‘It has been found that the child came from India and went to Bobang to meet relatives,’ he said, ‘now the child has returned to India.’ He said that a search campaign would be launched as children from Nisikhola rural municipality he met may also have this problem. 

In the first phase, 47 children in Bobang were found to have measles infection. Now that number has increased. Raju Khatri, the office’s vaccination supervisor, said that there is a risk of spreading the disease throughout the village if isolation is not managed.