August 10: The cases of dengue fever are soaring across the country. According to the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division, the disease has spread to 74 districts with 10,726 diagnosed cases. It has so far caused seven fatalities.    

Director of the division Dr Rudra Prasad Marasini said that monsoon rains and inadequate sanitation practice have led to the rise in infection. If the ongoing trend persists, the infection is anticipated to reach its peak during August-September.    

In 2022, the country reported 54,784 cases with 88 fatalities.    

Among the districts dealing with the infection, Sunsari has the highest number of cases at 6,041.    

Dengue is caused by the mosquitoes called Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. It breeds in places where clean water gets accumulated.    

Among the provinces, Koshi Province has reported the highest number of infection with 8,109 cases followed by 1,453 cases in Bagmati, 471 in Gandaki, 393 in Sudurpaschim, 215 in Lumbini, 57 in the Madhesh and 28 in Karnali.    

Dengue was first detected in Nepal in the year 2004. Cases of dengue fever increased in 2006, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2017 and 2019.

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 .

The mosque-borne disease which was mostly found in Terai-Madhes has also been increasingly detected in mountainous cities, including Pokhara and Kathmandu since 2018.

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 government officials, dengue patients have also been detected in Humla, Jumla, Mugu and Dolpa in recent years.

The government has appealed to one and all to use mosquito nets at night, wear full-sleeve clothes during farm work, and install wire mesh doors and windows to avoid contracting the disease.

Similarly, the government has recommended the use of mosquito repellant coils, liquid or ointment, proper management of domesticated animals and removal of puddle. -- RSS