The incidence of infective diarrhea and hepatitis E has sharply increased in Kathmandu, Nepal, said doctors at a recent press conference organized by Liver Foundation Nepal.
This summer, the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division (EDCD) of Nepal received notification of 55 cases of cholera from the capital alone. In addition, this is the fourth outbreak of hepatitis E in recent years in Kathmandu, and the largest so far.
Dr. Santosh Man Shrestha, president of Liver Foundation Nepal said, “Recurrence of liver disease in a particular area is rare in other parts of the world but this is the fourth Hepatitis E outbreak in Kathmandu Valley.”
Hepatitis E and diarrheal diseases are an important public health concern in Nepal. Diarrheal diseases are the second largest killer of children here; 10 million children suffer from diarrheal disease every year and about 28 000 of them die.
“We suspect drinking water as the source of contamination behind these outbreaks but we have not received any official report of drinking water tests from the Nepal Water Supply Corporation, which has the responsibility of testing water quality,” said Dr. Manas Kumar Banerjee, EDCD director.
The water supply infrastructure of Kathmandu Valley is very old. There are many leakages, and the drinking water is easily contaminated by the sewage and other substances from the sanitation pipes.
“Besides lack of safe drinking water, feeding children without first washing hands properly, using dirty utensils to carry water, eating dirty and stale food are other causes behind an increase in these infectious diseases.” says Banerjee.
EDCD has recently incorporated diarrheal diseases in its priority and has increased its surveillance. In addition, the Nepal Water Supply Corporation has started chlorinating drinking water.
“Disinfecting water certainly helps contain outbreaks on a short term. But only through provision of pure water and increase in the awareness level of people about the importance of good hygiene can future outbreak of these diseases be stopped,” says Banerjee.