Kathmandu, May 30

Two patients admitted to Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital have tested positive for dengue virus.

According to STIDH, a 25-year-old man from Bhaisepati area of Lalitpur and a 29-year-old man from Kirtipur Municipality of Kathmandu have tested positive for the disease.

“Patients were confirmed to have been infected with dengue virus following laboratory examination,” said Dr Sher Bahadur Pun, virologist at STIDH, adding National Public Health Laboratory had also confirmed the cases.

According to Dr Pun, confirmation of the virus in the pre-monsoon season is alarming as dengue cases are normally reported in the post-monsoon period. “It could lead to dengue epidemic in the capital,” said Dr Pun. Patients are still receiving treatment in the hospital.

Epidemiology and Disease Control Division of the Department of Health Services, which is responsible for controlling epidemics throughout the country, said it had alerted the District Public Health Office, Kathmandu, to the possibility of spread of the disease.

“We have alerted all DPHOs throughout the country,” said epidemiology chief at EDCD Gunanidhi Sharma. He said EDCD had also started investigating the origin of the deadly disease.

According to Sharma, the EDCD would also launch awareness campaign against dengue virus in Kathmandu Valley. Last year too, several patients were infected with the dengue virus in Kathmandu Valley.

Dr Pun said health workers had warned of a dengue epidemic as several studies carried out by Epidemiology and Disease Control Division under the Department of Health Services in the past found significant numbers of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopicitus mosquitoes that spread dengue and chikungunya in Kathmandu Valley.

Dr Pun said Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopicitus mosquitoes bite in the day time and breed in clean water. Mild to high fever, severe headache, pain in the eyes, muscles and rashes are some of the symptoms of the disease.

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