7 died, 700 ill because of Anti-elephantiasis

Apr 2, 2011 @ 11:30

Nepal Medical Association (NMA) expressed its deep concern over the deaths and suffering of the victims who consumed the elephantiasis prevention drug distributed by the government. At least seven people died and around 700 took “seriously ill” in the last three days, according to unofficial reports.

Elephantiasis is a disease that causes thickening of the skin and underlying tissues, especially in the lower body, caused by small, threadlike parasitic worms spread by Culex female mosquitoes.

The government administered two free different drugs — Diethylcarbamazine (DEC) and Albendazole — to 14.5 million people aged above 2 years in 36 districts on March 26 and 27 and they began showing adverse side effects from Wednesday.
High rate of deaths and illness are being reported from Banke, Bardiya, Saptari, Dang and Okhaldhunga districts. In Banke alone, two persons died and more than 500 took ill. Two died in Saptari and 50 people were referred to BP Koirala Memorial Hospital, Dharan. One person died in Dang and one in Okhaldhunga. By Friday evening, more than 100 similar cases have been registered in various health institutions, hospitals across the country.

Meanwhile, medical teams are in field studies in Banke, Bardiya, Saptari and Dang and will prepare report by Sunday. “The drugs cause various side effects like high fever, severe headache, vomiting, diarrhoea and dizziness, but not death,” Dr Biswa Raj Khanal, senior Public Health Administrator at EDCD, said. He added, EDCD has been administering the anti-elephantiasis pill for the last 50 years and Albendazole for last 20 years at the recommendation of WHO.
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