Dengue surge in Bagmati raises outbreak concerns

By Rammani Dahal,Makwanpur, July 13: Bagmati Province is currently witnessing a surge in dengue infections, indicating a potential outbreak of dengue within the region.

According to the statistics of the Ministry of Health in Bagmati Province, there has been a noticeable increase in the risk of dengue infections within the province.

A total of 117 people in the province have been infected with dengue in July, while the number was only 27 in May, the statistics show.

As per the Ministry’s report, there has been a steady increase in both the number of dengue cases and the number of districts affected by dengue within the province over the past two months.

According to Dr. Rabin Bhushal, the spokesperson for the Ministry, dengue cases have been reported in six districts during the month of May. These districts include Rasuwa, Dhading, Nuwakot, Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, and Lalitpur.

During the month of June, dengue patients were identified in 11 districts, excluding Dolakha and Ramechhap, according to the Ministry’s records.

He informed that in the month of February, 30 cases were reported in the province, followed by 29 cases in March and 52 cases in April.

A total of 42,459 people in the province have been infected with the disease between July 2022 to January 2023.

Similarly, Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, and Makwanpur districts witnessed the highest number of dengue cases between that period.

According to the ministry, Dhading has recorded the highest number of dengue cases with 78 infected individuals, followed by Nuwakot with 14 cases, and Kathmandu district with eight cases from February to July.

Based on the latest data, the risk of dengue outbreak in Bagmati Province remains high this year as well.

Considering the rising number of dengue-infected patients by mid-July this year, it is crucial to implement effective prevention and control measures. Failure to do so may result in the escalation of dengue infection into an epidemic within the province, warned health experts.

A study conducted last year to monitor the vectors responsible for transmitting insect-borne diseases in five districts of Bagmati Province, which are heavily impacted by dengue, has revealed a high risk of dengue infection.

The study carried by the Health Ministry of the province in collaboration with Vector Borne Disease Research and Training Center, Hetauda, highlights the urgent need to prevent dengue using effective vector control measures.

During the examination of water samples collected from 1,623 stored water sources belonging to 547 households across five different districts of the province, it was observed that these water sources contained breeding grounds for dengue vectors, surpassing the minimum threshold for dengue breeding.

The report highlighted the need to take an effective approach to control the rapid spread of dengue through locating and eliminating the breeding grounds of the mosquito larvae and pupa.

Following the dengue outbreak in several districts of the province in July and August last year, the Ministry of Health assigned the center with the responsibility of conducting studies and research on the matter.Deepak Shah, the assistant entomologist of the centre, revealed that the study conducted during the dry season, prior to the arrival of monsoon demonstrated an ongoing risk of dengue infection in the province.

He warned that if proactive prevention and control measures are not implemented promptly, the situation could worsen compared to the previous year.

The study was carried out in ward-16 of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, ward-5 and 14 of Lalitpur Metropolitan City, ward-4 of Madhyapur Thimi Municipality, ward-1 of Ratnanagar Municipality, and ward-7 of Manhari Rural Municipality in Makwanpur.

As per the data provided by the ministry, a total of 42,714 cases of dengue were reported in the province between July 2022 and June 2023.