KATHMANDU, JUNE 9
Over 1,250 dengue infections have been reported in 72 districts across Nepal as cases rise with the early onset of the monsoon, according to the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division (EDCD).
From January 1 to June 8, a total of 1,255 cases have been recorded, with Kathmandu reporting the highest number (132), followed by Kaski (90), Sunsari (87), Chitwan (61), Rupandehi (47), Kanchanpur (37), Dang (32), and Bhaktapur (30).
Health officials warn that the June–August period poses a high risk for dengue transmission. The Ministry of Health has called for coordinated efforts involving local communities and NGOs to control the spread, as complete eradication of mosquito larvae remains unfeasible.
Dr Gokarna Dahal, head of the Vector-Borne Disease Control Section at EDCD, said the early monsoon and forecast of above-average rainfall may further accelerate transmission, though definitive data on infection trends remains limited.
Dengue is primarily spread through bites from infected Aedes mosquitoes, especially Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, which thrive in stagnant water-common during the monsoon season.
Once infected, humans become the main carriers of the virus, passing it on to uninfected mosquitoes. Recovery from one dengue virus type provides lifelong immunity to that type but only partial and short-term protection against the other three types. Evidence suggests that infection with different types increases the risk of severe dengue. Severity depends on factors like secondary infection, age, and other health conditions such as diabetes and kidney disease.
The high virus risks is projected to be between the Nepali months of Asar, Shrawan, Bhadra, and Ashwin.
