Dengue threat exists in Kathmandu Valley: DPHO

HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE

KATHMANDU: Kathmandu District Public Health Office (DPHO) has identified traces of mosquitoes within Kathmandu Valley, that carry the dreaded dengue disease.

Ten thousand households in seven core areas of Kathmandu — Jadibuti, Bouddha, Kalanki, Old Buspark, Lagan, Gongabu Buspark and Shankamul areas — were inspected during a four-day campaign to search for the Aedes Aegypti type mosquito in Kathmandu.

The office recorded some eggs, larvae and mosquitoes, DPHO chief Mahendra Prasad Shrestha said.

This is the first ever campaign that has been launched to find whether the mosquito that carries the dengue virus exists in Kathmandu, that is, whether it is indigenous or referral from other places.

“The densely populated capital is vulnerable to dengue and traces of mosquitoes causing the disease are found in congested areas,” said Shrestha.

He also alerted people to protect themselves from mosquitoes.

About 50 Female Community Health Volunteers (FCHVs) have been assigned to figure out the mosquito with assistance from entomologists from Hetuada based Vector borne disease Training and Research Centre, he informed.

According to Geeta Acharya, vector control inspector at DPHO , the study was carried out after some dengue cases were recorded in Kathmandu.

During the campaign, volunteers visited households to search and destroy the egg, larvae and mosquitoes that pose the dengue threat.

These mosquitoes can cause trouble in cities and urban areas as they breed in water collected in artificial containers such as plastic cups, used tyres, broken bottles, flower pots and even drinking water tanks. They are also found near air coolers and refrigerators, informed the inspector.

The threat posed by Aedes mosquitoes is much greater than other mosquitoes. Unlike regular mosquitoes that breed in filthy water, it grows even in clean water and bites during daytime, she said.

“Primary investigation has found eggs and mosquito that could cause dengue in some places,” said Acharya, adding that they will publish the detailed report within 15 days.

Some symptoms of the disease are high fever, severe headache and pain in the joints, muscles, behind the eyes, nausea, rash and vomiting.

Dengue mortality rate is high and only ten per cent of dengue patients have dengue shock syndrome.

Dengue was first discovered in 2004 in Chitwan district and the country recorded an outbreak in 2006 in nine districts. Epidemiology and Disease Control Division recorded five deaths due to dengue in 2010.