Contain Dengue Danger

Nepal is well familiar with repeated dengue outbreaks. Since detecting its first dengue case in an India-returnee traveller in 2004, the country has witnessed multiple outbreaks. Significant outbreaks occurred in 2005 and 2010. However, it wasn't until 2022 the outbreak reached its epidemic proportion, with cases reported from all 77 districts and all seven provinces. By the end of that year, 54784 cases and 88 fatalities were recorded, with cases clustering in Bagmati Province and the Kathmandu Valley being the worst affected. Hospitals were overwhelmed with dengue patients. The unusually high pre-monsoon rainfall blamed on climate change and mismanaged waste disposal were said to be behind the explosion of the cases. Last year, it caused 20 deaths and infected over 52,000 people across the country.