Dengue and Japanese encephalitis cases surge in Rupandehi and Lamjung

By Our Correspondent,Rupandehi/Lamjung, Sept. 18: Cases of dengue and Japanese encephalitis are on the rise in several districts, with Rupandehi and Lamjung among the most affected areas in recent weeks.

Health authorities have reported multiple infections and have launched awareness campaigns in an effort to control the spread.

According to our Rupandehi correspondent, a total 184 cases of dengue and 10 cases of Japanese encephalitis (JE) have been confirmed so far in the district, the District Health Office informed. 

Two fatalities have been reported; a man from Tilottama Municipality died due to Japanese encephalitis, while another from Bardaghat, Nawalparasi, succumbed to dengue.

Kedarnath Shah, Senior Vector Control Director at the District Health Office, said both diseases have been emerging in the district recently, although they have not yet reached epidemic levels. He noted that last year, no Japanese encephalitis cases were recorded in Rupandehi, marking this year’s surge as particularly concerning.

The Japanese Encephalitis has been reported in Tilottama Municipality Wards 2, 4, and 5, Devdaha Municipality Wards 1 and 5, Mayadevi Municipality-5, Sainamaina Municipality-3.

Meanwhile, dengue infections have spread across most local bodies in the district, with the exception of Kotimai and Sammarimai Rural Municipalities.

Butwal Sub-Metropolitan City has recorded the highest number of dengue cases with 35 infections, followed by Tilottama Municipality with 26 cases.

Dengue situation worsens in Lamjung Meanwhile, our Lamjung correspondent Nabinraj Kuikel adds: The risk of dengue infection has been increasing in various parts of the Lamjung district.

The number of dengue-infected patients is rising at different health centres located throughout the district, including the provincial hospital in Beshisahar. According to the public health office, 93 patients were recorded in the past two months, Shrawan and Bhadra. Recent data released by the public health office show that the highest number of patients, 30, was recorded in Beshisahar, the district headquarters, in the past two months.

Prabin Khanal, the Chief of the Public Health Office, confirmed that 17 patients were recorded in Rainash Municipality, 11 in Marsyangdi Rural Municipality, and eigh in Dordi Rural Municipality in the past two months. Similarly, one patient each was recorded in Madhyanepal, Dudhpokhari, and Kholosothar Municipality during the same period. Furthermore, eight patients from other districts have also been visiting health institutions in Lamjung, health officials confirmed.

Over the past year, at least 529 dengue patients were recorded in the district. In the meantime, a campaign to destroy mosquito larvae was launched as the dengue infection came to rise in Beshisahar, but it has not been effective, stakeholders said.

Guman Singh Aryal, the Mayor of Beshisahar Municipality, stated that his municipality has begun raising awareness by identifying and destroying mosquito breeding sites.