Dengue cases start rising in Tanahun

By Amar Raj Naharki,Tanahun, Oct. 8:The cases of dengue have started rising at an alarming rate in Tanahun district since the end of September. 

The situation update on dengue by the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division (EDCD) shows that Tanahun recorded more dengue cases than 75 other districts combined since the beginning of October.

Until October 5, EDCD reported 1,203 cases of dengue in Tanahun. In the same period, 519 cases of dengue have been reported in 75 other districts. In 2023, out of the 77 districts, dengue has not been spotted in Humla district yet.

According to the EDCD, Tanahun reported 3,115 cases of dengue since January 2023. However, the Health Office of Tanahun informed that it has reported 4,239 cases of dengue during the same period. 

Similarly, four deaths from dengue have been confirmed, informed Shankar Babu Adhikari, chief of the health office.

“Of the total cases in the district, 86 per cent were reported from Vyas Municipality. All the four cases of death were also from Vyas,” said Adhikari.

Pramod Soti, chief of the Health Section of Vyas Municipality, informed that a 35-year-old man was the first casualty of dengue on July 1. “After that, a 15-year-old boy died on September 19 and a four-year-old boy and a 13-year-old girl died on September 25,” added Soti.

Following the increasing risk, authorities across Tanahun have started destroying larvae of mosquitoes with larvicides. They are also increasing awareness about dengue and teaching preventive measures to the locals.

Tanahun Red Cross Society has also started a month-long campaign against dengue from October 2.

“We have deployed 150 volunteers to conduct door-to-door awareness campaign. Awareness was also provided to school teachers and students. Those associated with junior and youth circles of the Red Cross have also been trained to generate awareness,” said Prof. Dr. Krishna Prasad Gautam, a central member and President of Tanahun Red Cross Society. 

Doctors have advised locals to reach the nearby health centres if they have symptoms such as high fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, nausea and vomiting.

Until October 5, EDCD recorded 34,991 cases of dengue and 20 confirmed deaths by the illness.