Dengue infection growing in Banke

By Our Correspondent 

Nepalgunj, Oct 3 : Dengue infection has been increasing in Banke for the past two weeks. The hospitals of the district have witnessed the overflow of dengue patients. 

According to Dr. Badri Chapagain, chief at Bheri Hospital, 24 dengue cases were detected in the hospital within 15 days. 

The number of referrals case of dengue from outside districts has also been increasing in the hospital, said Chapagain. 

According to the Bheri hospital, two dengue patients each from Kailali and Bardia districts died while receiving treatment at the hospital. 

As dengue is spreading throughout the country, the number of dengue patients has also increased at the hospitals of Banke, according to District Health Office, Banke. 

According to Durga Gautam, dengue focal person of DHO, all the government health institutions and private hospitals have reported that many dengue patients have been admitted. 

He said that virus infected people are also visiting the hospitals for test suspecting dengue. 

Dr. Chapagain said that dengue can be cured after treatment, one should not panic but should be admitted only in case severe symptoms appear. 

"As it is a viral outbreak, there was a trend in the past that dengue infection will decrease until the end of October." 

The outbreak of dengue has gripped the nation but no study has been carried out to find which serotype of dengue virus is infecting people in Banke. 

There is a technology to identify serotype of dengue virus in Kathmandu only. The Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital has a technology to identify the serotype of the virus, but according to doctors they are used only for the research purposes. 

It is necessary to know the type of dengue virus for planning treatment, said Dr. Rajan Pandey, chief physician at the hospital and added that timely adoption of preventive measures, strategy and health infrastructure are needed to contain the spread of virus. 

He also said that it is very important to spread awareness along with cleanliness campaigns at the community. 

On the other hand, Nepalgiunj Sub-metropolitan City has said that special priority has been given for cleanliness of high-risk areas of the breeding sites of dengue-causing mosquitoes.

Kamaruddin Rai, Deputy Mayor of the sub-metropolis, said that the cleanliness and awareness campaign has been conducted at the ward level.