Dengue risk declines

Heavy rain washes away mosquito eggs reducing their number

Kathmandu, June 22

The number of dengue cases across the country has reached 801 as of June 18 according to data maintained by Epidemiology and Disease Control Division. The cases were reported from Dharan, Sunsari, Morang and Itahari, of which 662 cases were verified by BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences. Most of the dengue affected people are from wards 8 and 15, of Dharan Sub-metropolitan City. Dengue was also confirmed in 22 people in Morang.

Aedes aegypti mosquito spreads dengue. It breeds mostly in man-made containers.

“Dengue testing kits have reached all the health centres. Dengue cases are now declining,” said Uttam Raj Pyakurel, vector control inspector, at Epidemiology and Disease Control Division.“When there is heavy rainfall eggs of mosquitoes get washed away. That leads to decline in the number of mosquitoes,” said Anup Bastola, consultant tropical medicine physician at Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital.

But we should also be careful about stored water. Chances of mosquitoes breeding are high where water is stored. Though dengue risk is low we still need to be careful,” said Bastola. Aedes aegypti mosquito is the primary vector of dengue. The virus is transmitted to humans through infected female mosquitoes. Its peak biting periods are early morning and evening, before dusk.

People suffering from dengue show symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, pain in muscles, bone pain, rashes and back pain.

Severe dengue is a deadly complication due to plasma leakage, fluid accumulation and respiratory distress. There are chances of mortality if there is co-infection of other bacteria in dengue patients, said Bastola.

To help prevent dengue one should search and destroy mosquitoes and their breeding areas.