Acute Mountain Sickness: More than 165 mountaineers affected by AMS
In January 2015, the cost of climbing Mount Everest on its Nepal side has been cut by more than half in a bid to tempt back visitors. The numbers have fallen after a number of victims and an unprecedented shutdown of Everest, after Sherpa guides refused to climb it in the wake of an avalanche. But now the annual climbing season is under way at Mount Everest base camp, a year after the largest recorded loss of life.
In the recent wake of events, striking number of mountaineers and their support staffs (figure suggests more than 165 mountaineers) complained of altitude sickness, caused due to snowfall at the Everest Base Camp and nearby regions, abnormal for this time of the year, has been affecting climbing actions in Khumbu region for the last two weeks.
According to Govind Bashyal, an official at Feriche-based health centre run by Himalaya Rescue Association “Most of the patients complained of altitude sickness, as adverse weather has taken a toll on climbing activities this spring season.” They are receiving up to 15 patients daily addressing complain of AMS, High altitude pulmonary edema and High altitude cerebral edema.
A medical camp set up at the base camps are receiving patients, which are being treated by a team of 4 doctors including Luanne Freer (US), Meg Wamsley (Australia), Racheal (New Zealand) and Aditya Tiwari , has been providing medical treatment to the climbers since Saturday. Further doctors’ including Katie William (UK), Andrew Nyberg (US) and Renee Salas (US) has been stationed at Feriche since mid-March.
Operators on site informed that 25 camps are already been set up to offer protection to climbers from across the world.
Image courtesy: himalayan
