Banke, September 21
Forty people have been injured in monkey attacks in Nepalgunj over the past 45 days. Many of them were injured while trying to chase the monkeys away. Dr Badri Chapagain, who is studying cases of snake and animal bites at Bheri Hospital in Nepalgunj, said 40 people injured in monkey attacks had sought treatment at the hospital during the past one and a half months.
He said cases of people arriving at the hospital after being injured by monkey bites were a new phenomenon in Nepalgunj. “People have long been coming to the hospital after being injured by dog, cat and snake bites,” Dr Chapagain said. “But it is surprising that monkeys are now entering homes and biting people.”
He urged people to remain cautious as monkey activity has increased in the city and to seek immediate medical treatment in case of an attack. Bheri Hospital has recently seen an increase in cases involving snake and animal bites. According to data provided by Dr Chapagain, who is studying such cases at the hospital, 1,036 cases of animal bites were recorded at Bheri Hospital over the past 45 days.
The highest number involved dog bites, with 865 cases, followed by cat bites with 110, monkey bites with 40 and rat bites with 21 cases. During the same period, 118 snakebite patients also received treatment at Bheri Hospital. Four people were treated for insect bites, while 19 patients were treated after being bitten by unidentified animals.
Dr Navin Darnal, chief medical superintendent of Bheri Hospital, said monkey bites had previously been reported among farmers in rural areas, but cases in the market area were a new development. He said patients injured by monkey bites were treated as victims of wild-animal attacks and provided anti-rabies vaccines, with necessary arrangements made to ensure they received treatment as required.
—RSS
