Kathmandu, September 16

Although the number of dengue cases is rising across the country, a large chunk of the population lacks awareness of the disease and the preventive measures to be taken to stay safe, according to a research.

The research conducted by Nepal Health Research Council on 660 people in Chitwan, Dhading, Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Nuwakot and Dhunche in 2017-18 showed that only 13 per cent  people had adopted preventive measures against the disease.

From among the respondents, only 16 per cent living in the hills have heard of dengue, while 53 per cent of people in the plain areas have heard of the disease.

The research revealed that the level of awareness is very low among the general public. “To help prevent the spread of this disease, it is necessary to make people aware about the need to destroy mosquitoes,” said Meghnath Dhimal, chief research officer at Nepal Health Research Council.

“A nationwide campaign should be launched to control the dengue outbreak. Every citizen should be made aware about the disease,” said Ishan Gautam, associate professor of entomology at Tribhuvan University, who also works at the Natural History Museum.

Dengue causing mosquitoes should be killed using natural methods. We should not delay in adopting measures to destroy mosquitoes, their eggs and larvae. The breeding grounds of mosquitoes should be destroyed, said Dhimal during a press meet organised in the capital.

Researchers at the council have said that climate change and the consequent rise in temperature have contributed to the sudden rise in the number of dengue cases in the country. “Urbanisation, overpopulation and local and global changes are to blame for the rise in the number of dengue patients,” added Dhimal.