KATHMANDU, July 7: The government has officially gazetted a list of 52 infectious diseases, as per Section 49(1) of the Public Health Service Act, 2075. 

This list encompasses a wide range of diseases such as  Rabies, Tuberculosis, COVID-19, Measles, Dengue, Japanese Encephalitis, Cholera, Tetanus, HIV and AIDS, Influenza, Scrub Typhus, Enteric Fever, Leishmaniasis, Rotavirus, Rubella, Leptospirosis, Diphtheria, Pneumococcal Pneumonia, Hepatitis B, Malaria, Influenzae, Brucellosis, Leprosy, Pertussis, Hepatitis C, Nipah Virus Infection, Mumps, Toxoplasmosis, Trachoma, Ebola Virus Disease, Lymphatic Filariasis, Salmonellosis, Crimean Congo Haemorrhagic Fever, Marburg Viral Disease, SARS, Hepatitis A, MERS, Plague, Legionellosis, Echinococcosis/ Hydatidosis, Monkeypox, Smallpox, Yellow Fever, Hepatitis E, Cysticercosis/ Taeniasis, Chikumgunya, Zika, Q Fever, Lassa Fever, Rift Valley Fever. 

The declaration aims to streamline reporting and treatment protocols across local health facilities. Sagar Dahal from the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division said that this step will facilitate better disease management and reporting mechanisms nationwide.

In case any of these 52 diseases are identified in local health institutions, the information must promptly be communicated to both central and provincial governments, as per the provisions set forth in the Public Health Act.