Kathmandu, November 21:

The Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) has stepped up measures to prevent dengue fever from spreading next year.

Dr Manas Banerjee, director at the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division (EDCD), said entomological survey has already been conducted in high-risk areas namely Banke, Bardia, Dang, Parsa, Rupendehi and Jhapa districts.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), 64 blood samples of suspected patients were tested at the National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL), of which 16 were from Nepalgunj. Twelve samples have tested positive for dengue from different districts of the Terai, while 25 samples of the suspected cases have been sent by NPHL to the Armed Forces Regional Institute of Medical Sciences, Bangkok, for virus characterisation.

The entomological survey was conducted in Biratnagar, Birgunj, Bharatpur, Butwal, Nepalgunj and Tulsipur.

Dr Banerjee said the government has also taken preventive measures to control the spread of dengue in the Terai.

Dr Mahesh Maskey, advisor to the Health Minister, said the Health Ministry is all prepared to control the spread of malaria, dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases next year.

The EDCD has also prioritised measures to control malaria next year. According to the EDCD, a total of 276 malaria cases were recorded this year.