Seven dengue cases detected in Balaju alone

Kathmandu, October 26

Dozens of dengue cases have been reported in Kathmandu, with seven cases detected in Balaju area alone. Doctors have said Kathmandu valley is at high risk of dengue outbreak.

According to Dr Bibek Kumar Lal, director at Epidemiology and Disease Control Division, as many as seven people from Balaju area have been diagnosed with dengue and receiving treatment.

Talking to The Himalayan Times, he shared that Epidemiology and Disease Control Division, District Public Health Office, Kathmandu, and Kathmandu Metropolitan-16 City are working together to control dengue outbreak. “District Public Health Office is collecting data of dengue patients in order to control dengue in the district,” said Dr Lal.

Dr Sher Bahadur Pun, coordinator of clinical research unit at Sukraraj Tropical Infectious Disease Hospital, said chances of dengue outbreak was high between October and December as the time is favourable for mosquitoes to breed. “Patients with symptoms of dengue fever have been increasing at the hospital. People need to be take precaution,” added Dr Pun.

Meanwhile, Dr Lal shared that due to lack of  coordination with the local government, EDCD was facing difficulty in taking immediate steps to control dengue outbreak.

“With the implementation of federal system of government, we don’t have the right to visit the infected areas without the local levels’ permission and we also do not have budget for immediate response,” Dr Lal said.

“But we are providing technical support to the local government to control the disease and working to spread public awareness,” he added.