July 7: Cases of dengue infection is on the rise in the country of late. The number of dengue patients is increasing with the onset of monsoon, according to Dr Gokarna Dahal chief of the Vector Born Disease Control Section under the government’s Epidemiology and Disease Control Division.    

The current season is favourable for spreading dengue infection. Mosquito larva are found rife in the puddles caused by the rainfall.    

"Rainfall is taking place daily. Mosquitos lay eggs in ditches and containers filled with water. So, tidiness is essential," said Dr Gokarna Dahal.

Avoiding mosquito bites is the best option to remain safe from the infection, the Ministry of Health and Population said in a notice issued earlier. The ministry has urged the people to wear clothes that cover all body parts, use mosquito nets and repellent, and destroy mosquito breeding areas to avoid mosquito bites.   

Meanwhile, Dr Dahal said that since the beginning of 2023, a total of 1,024 people are found infected with dengue. So far this year, a person from Sunsari lost his life due to the dengue infection.    

The division's record shows that currently there are 46 dengue patients in Kathmandu, 12 in Lalitpur, and 35 in Bhaktpur. Darchula has the highest number of dengue patients at 187 while Dhading has 131, Sunsari 75, Kaski 66, and Myagdi 29.

According to the available data, 32 infection cases were recorded in 2006 AD, 917 in 2010 AD, 686 in 2013 AD, 1,527 in 2016 AD, 2,111 in 2017 AD, 811 in 2018 AD, 17,992 in 2019 AD, 530 in 2020 AD and 540 in 2021 AD .

With the rise in mercury level in mountainous region due to climate change, dengue cases have been detected in places where it was never reported before.   

According to the Province Health Service Directorate, Surkhet, dengue patients have been detected in Humla, Jumla, Mugu and Dolpa in recent years

Dengue Control Source Person and vector control officer of the directorate, Shyam Lal Acharya said mountainous region is becoming favourable for lifecycle of mosquitoes.   Acharya requested all to adopt precaution as dengue-carrying mosquitoes are active till mid-October.