POKHARA, Aug 12: The dengue outbreak in Gandaki Province is escalating, with 1,369 confirmed cases reported so far, according to the Provincial Health Directorate.

Navaraj Sharma, Information Officer at the Directorate, revealed that Tanahun is the most affected area, with 552 confirmed cases.

Meanwhile, a 48-year-old man from Byas Municipality in Tanahun succumbed to the disease.

Following Tanahu, Kaski is experiencing significant dengue activity, with 480 confirmed cases. Last Wednesday alone, 40 new cases were reported in Kaski.

Other affected areas include Gorkha with 111 cases, Baglung with 86, Parbat with 66, Lamjung with 55, Myagdi with 41, Syangja with 36, Nawalpur with 11, and Manang with one case.

The number of dengue infections is on the rise. The directorate reported 643 cases in July and 474 cases before the second week of August.

This is a sharp increase from January, when 70 cases were recorded, and from June, which saw 87 cases.

Ram Bahadur Nepali, Head of the Health Office in Kaski, warned that dengue risk is highest from June to October.

He highlighted a recent decline in cases in the provincial capital, Pokhara, but cautioned that if not controlled, the situation could worsen significantly.

“Dengue should not be underestimated, as it can be fatal if not addressed promptly,” he emphasized.

He called for heightened awareness and proactive measures from all sectors to combat the disease.

Last year, Kaski reported 3,069 dengue cases, with 2,809 occurring in Pokhara Metropolitan City.

In response to the surge, local authorities, including Pokhara Metropolitan Municipality, have launched a ‘Search and Destroy’ campaign aimed at dengue prevention and control.