The reason behind the epidemic of diarrhea that spread in Nainhi village of ward no. 12 of Jaleswar municipality has been found to be coliform present in drinking water.
Around 300 locals were affected by diarrhea that spread in the Muslim settlement. And the sample sent for laboratory test confirmed the presence of e.coli and coliform in drinking water, suggesting fecal contamination, the District Public Health Office said.
The contamination was confirmed by the National Public Health Laboratory, Teku, in Kathmandu. The locals were found drinking water pumped from underground using a hand-pump. It was the same source for all the 300 families.
The locals now have been suggested to stop drinking water from the pump and seek other sources nearby, Public Health Inspector at the Office in Mahottari Santosh Kumar Thakur. The epidemic had begun on September 14, when 41 people were taken ill at once. It then spread to some 300 people, leading to the death of a girl child and an elderly.
The epidemic has been brought under control while health camps continue to service those affected, chief of the Office Rajiv Jha said.
