Categories: Health

Covid-19 cases rising at Mount Everest base camp

<p>
An increasing number of mountaineers at the Mount Everest base camp in Nepal are testing positive for Covid-19, raising fears of a serious outbreak, according to a BBC report on Wednesday.</p>
<p>
Base camp officials said a number of mountaineers from Mount Everest with suspected Covid-19 symptoms had been flown to hospitals in Kathmandu for treatment and 17 of them had tested positive for the infection.</p>
<p>
Staff at a private hospital in Kathmandu, the CIWEC clinic, confirmed to the <em>BBC </em>that patients had tested positive for coronavirus after arriving from Everest base camp.</p>
<p>
"We have just received from Kathmandu confirmation of 17 positive cases in climbers flown out of Everest," said Lhakpa Nuru Sherpa, an official with the Himalayan Rescue Association which runs a medical clinic at the base camp.</p>
<p>
The Nepalese government has so far denied having any knowledge of positive cases at Everest base camp, raising concerns that officials are downplaying the extent of the situation out of fear it will bring more pressure to close the mountain to expeditions.</p>
<p>
Prem Subedi, the under-secretary at Nepal's Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, told the BBC that the ministry was not aware of any coronavirus cases at base camp.</p>
<p>
Nepal has issued a record 394 permits so far this year for expeditions to Mount Everest, the world's highest peak, despite the surging coronavirus pandemic. Everest had been closed to mountaineers last year because of the coronavirus pandemic but the season resumed this year as foreign expeditions climbers are a major source of revenue for the Nepalese government.</p>
<p>
Authorities are mandating that visiting climbers quarantine in Nepal before proceeding to base camp, but concerns have been raised by some travel firms that there is a risk of a serious outbreak Covid-19. Many organisers had scrapped plans of taking expeditions to Mount Everest this year.</p>

IN Bureau

Recent Posts

Indian Chamber of Commerce hosts 14th India Minerals and Metals Forum, focuses on green steel and circular economy

The Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) on Thursday hosted the 14th India Minerals and Metals…

18 hours ago

PM Modi concludes visit to Ghana, heads to Trinidad & Tobago for 2nd leg of five-nation tour

Prime Minister Narendra Modi departed from Ghana's capital city of Accra after concluding the first…

18 hours ago

India-Australia science and technology project set to boost undersea surveillance capabilities

India and Australia have undertaken the first science and technology project arrangement to improve the…

22 hours ago

India-France joint military Exercise Shakti-VIII concludes, marks completion of intensive training engagement

The eighth edition of India-France Joint Military Exercise Shakti-VIII concluded on Thursday at Camp Larzac,…

22 hours ago

Recognition of his steadfast efforts in strengthening voice of Global South: Jaishankar as PM Modi receives Ghana’s highest state honour

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been conferred the national honour of Ghana, Officer of…

1 day ago

Jaishankar meets with FBI Director Kash Patel; appreciates India-US cooperation in countering terrorism, organised crime

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held a meeting with FBI Director Kash Patel in Washington…

1 day ago