WHO plays down risks of epidemic outbreak in Nepal

World Health Organization (WHO) played down the risks of an epidemic outbreak in Nepal on Wednesday amid widespread fears that unseasonal rain and looming monsoon may pose greater challenge to this earthquake-torn country 's fragile health system.

WHO Representative to Nepal, Dr. Lin Aung, told Xinhua that there is no sign of any epidemic outbreak in Nepal, and the situation in Nepal is normal.

"After any earthquakes, there is also the displacement of people. It always sees the contamination of water and there is always fear of the diseases," Lin said.

"We are setting up a disease surveillance system and outbreak surveillance system. As of now, there is not more than normal occurrence; there is no outbreak of diseases in any of the camps and any places," Lin added.

Dr. Roderico Ofrin, Head of Health Response, WHO, said that WHO had built a system of early reporting. "If there is a case there, there is a system to report back."

According to Roderico Ofrin, WHO has response teams to go and control any outbreak in the country. WHO has also got supplies prepared for the threatening monsoons.

WHO also thanked China for its cooperation and support. One Chinese health team offered surveillance lab support for doing lab tests to confirm if there is any outbreak on Tuesday, Roderico said.
  Xinhua - china.org.cn
7/5/15
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Related:

• Monsoons could bring disease, a second crisis, to earthquake-hit Nepal (UNICEF)