KATHMANDU, SEPTEMBER 12
The Ministry of Health and Population today, issuing a press release, said it had intensified the 'Search and Destroy Larva' campaign to destroy mosquitoes and prevent and control dengue, a mosquito-borne disease.
Cases of dengue have been rapidly increasing in the country for the past one month. At least a dozen people have died due to the disease, while over 7,500 have contracted dengue in the country since its recent breakout, according to the ministry.
The ministry also claimed it had launched a nationwide campaign to control dengue in the wake of the recent scenario.
Meanwhile, the ministry instructed the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration to mobilise all the 753 local governments in a bid to control the disease.
The 'Search and Destroy Larva' campaign will be made effective in all the wards by identifying key places where mosquito larva can be found.
Dengue is transmitted by the bite of specific female mosquitoes Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus that lay eggs in clean water.
Despite the surge in dengue cases, the government has not shown keen interest in destroying the mosquitoes. For instance, Kathmandu Metropolitan City carried out a search-and-destroy drive last week, that too in selected places.
Many local levels have not paid serious attention to the issue although cases have risen at an alarming rate. But as per the letter submitted to the MoFAGA, all the local levels will start a campaign to clean the possible areas where of such mosquitoes breed, every Saturday morning at 10:00am.
Local communities and people's representatives are encouraged to participate in the campaign in each household. Similarly, all the health posts and health institutions have been asked to send details of dengue patients to the government.
Mild to high fever, severe muscle ache, severe headache, and eye pain are some of the symptoms of dengue.
A version of this article appears in the print on September 13, 2022 of The Himalayan Times.
