KATHMANDU, OCTOBER 26
A total of 41,857 cases of dengue have been identified in 76 districts, with Koshi Province reporting the highest number (57.6 per cent), followed by Gandaki Province (23.4 per cent), Bagmati Province (12.4 per cent), Sudurpaschim Province (3.1 per cent), Lumbini (1.8 per cent), Madhes Province (1.4 per cent) and Karnali Province (0.4 per cent) since January 1.
According to a situation report released by the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division, dengue has claimed 20 lives so far this year. Eleven districts have more than 500 cases of dengue. Those districts include Sunsari, Tanahun, Jhapa, Dhangadi, Morang, Kaski, Kathmandu, Dhankuta, Sankhuwasabha, Kailali and Gorkha. The EDCD said the mortality of 20 cases of dengue was associated with severe dengue shock syndrome resulting from dengue along with other comorbidities.
Dengue is a viral infection transmitted to humans through the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes.
It is widespread throughout the tropics, with local variations in risk influenced by climate parameters as well as social and environmental factors.
Dengue is caused by a virus of the Flaviviridae family. There are four distinct but closely related serotypes of the virus that cause dengue (DENV-1, DENV- 2, DENV-3 and DENV-4).
As per the EDCD, the comprehensive Action Plan on Dengue Prevention and Control has been developed which has been disseminated to all the provinces, districts and local levels. It has been conducting routine surveillance of cases of dengue through the Early Warning and Reporting System. The line-lists of cases of dengue have been shared with 92 local levels in 66 districts to initiate timely response.
Two separate rounds of clinical orientation on dengue with a focus on clinical case management was recently organised by the EDCD in Kathmandu and Sunsari.
In July, the EDCD held a series of advocacy and sensitisation meetings involving elected representatives from various local levels in Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, Chitwan and Sunsari districts. In Kathmandu valley, these meetings took place in the presence of Minister of Health and Population Mohan Bahadur Basnet and other senior officials of the MOHP.
The advocacy meeting in Sunsari was specifically convened in response to the surge in the cases of dengue in recent months. It also claimed that the Ministry of Health and Population had initiated a campaign encouraging all public offices to conduct a cleanliness campaign in their office premises for at least 10 minute every Friday at 10:30am.
The EDCD has been maintaining regular communication and collaboration with the relevant levels, partners and stakeholders to enhance recording, reporting and response to dengue.
A version of this article appears in the print on October 27, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.