Kathmandu, August 11

Lack of sound coordination and management of human resources, logistics and equipment, information system and financial system among the three-tier government system poses a major hindrance in containing rising dengue cases across the country, said stakeholders.

Addressing a press meet organised by the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division, Sushil Nath Pyakurel, director general at the Department of Health Services, said, “We have not been able to control dengue outbreak because of the three-tier government system. Communication, coordination and collaboration with local bodies, provincial governments and the central government have been a challenge. There is a lack of human resources even in collecting statistics of people affected in the dengue-hit areas.”

Lack of technical manpower on vector control and budget crunch are other hurdles for controlling spread of dengue nationwide, he said.

Nepal recorded 3,425 dengue cases from April 14 to August 9 this year in 42 districts. The number of dengue cases can rise if the same situation persists. There should be coordination in every sector. Post monsoon period, which is favourable for mosquito to breed, is yet to arrive, said Bibek Kumar Lal, director of EDCD.

Unless there is proper management of drinking water and waste it is difficult to control the mosquito-borne disease, Lal said.

Migration of people from dengue prone countries such as India, Bangladesh, Srilanka, Thailand and Philippines to Nepal could also pose dengue threat, he said. The virus is transmitted to humans when female Aedes aegypti mosquito bites a person. Its peak biting periods are early morning and before dusk. Symptoms of dengue are high fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, pain in muscles and bones, rashes and back pain.

The doctors suggest to search and destroy mosquitoes and their breeding areas, keep environment clean, use nets and apply mosquito repellents, wear long sleeves and trousers to cover arms and legs, remove water from plates, change water in vases/bowls, recycle or dispose discarded tyres and take medicines only on doctor’s advice, as preventive measures against the disease.