Kathmandu, March 18
Dengue infections have begun to increase this year even before pre-monsoon season.
Unlike previous years, dengue infections have persisted during the winter months, raising concerns among health sector officials who fear a repeat of last year’s epidemic.
Gokarn Dahal, a specialist in insect-borne diseases from the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division, says that the number of dengue cases did not drop to zero during the winter. He says dengue infections have gradually risen in recent days, with sporadic cases emerging in various parts of the country.
“Between 22 to 25 cases are being reported each week,” Dahal told Onlinekhabar, highlighting the need for heightened awareness about the situation.
He explained that with the onset of the pre-season and the arrival of summer, the risk of dengue transmission escalates as mosquito eggs hatch into larvae and pupae, and eventually develop into mosquitoes.
Mosquito eggs, laid during the preceding months, remain dormant until the arrival of the rainy season, at which point they begin to hatch and thrive.
Experts warn that this year carries a heightened risk of dengue transmission due to the substantial egg-laying by mosquitoes in the preceding year.
“We still had cases during December and January. This is not good news as now the eggs laid by the mosquitoes will hatch and when the pre-monsoon arrives it will spread rapidly. There is fear of things getting even worse than last year,” said Dahal.
Dengue infections were found in all 77 districts in Nepal with 20 people dying due to and over 50,000 infections being reported.
Two decades ago, mosquitoes were a rare sight in the Kathmandu Valley, and insect-borne diseases were scarcely reported in the hilly and Himalayan districts. However, due to climate change, diseases traditionally found in the Tarai region have started to emerge in the Himalayan region via mountainous routes.
