BIRGUNJ: Health officials have confirmed the presence of cholera in eight out of 10 samples collected in Birgunj.

According to Dr. Ranjan Raj Bhatta, Director of the National Public Health Laboratory, stool samples from individuals exhibiting cholera-like symptoms were gathered and sent for further analysis. “Through culture testing using ‘Bhitech’ technology, cholera bacteria were detected in eight samples,” he said.

Dr. Bhatta noted that although initial rapid diagnostic tests (RDT) conducted at a local hospital had already indicated cholera, the samples were re-tested to confirm the results.

“As RDT outcomes can sometimes be inconsistent, we performed lab cultures for accurate verification,” he added.