Kathmandu, Feb. 27 -- Seventy to 80 percent of families in Nakharji village in ward 9 of Khatyad Rural Municipality have been suffering from flu, cough and fever over the past week, in what health workers suspect is an influenza outbreak that began after the 'Mahashivaratri mela' (fair) in the village on February 15. Around 500 people have reportedly been infected.

"Small children and elderly people have been affected the most," Dr Bikash Dhital, who serves at the Primary Health Centre, Ratapani in ward 11 of the rural municipality, told the Post over phone from Mugu. "No one has died from infection, but around 40 patients with serious health conditions are being treated with injectable medications."

Health workers in the affected villa...