KATHMANDU, May 9: With the onset of rainfall, the risk of dengue infection is expected to increase across the country, prompting health authorities to urge the public to adopt preventive measures.
Dr Gokarna Prasad Dahal, chief of the Vector-Borne Disease Control Section under the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division at the Ministry of Health and Population, warned that stagnant water could lead to a surge in dengue-transmitting mosquitoes.
1,111 new dengue cases reported in Nepal in last 24 hours, No....
"When water accumulates, it becomes a breeding ground for mosquitoes that carry dengue. It typically takes about 15 to 20 days for the larvae to mature and spread the virus. Therefore, the next two to three weeks carry a high risk of dengue transmission. Everyone must remain alert and take necessary precautions,” said Dr Dahal.
The Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquito species, which transmit dengue, lay eggs in stagnant water. These eggs hatch into larvae, which eventually develop into adult mosquitoes capable of transmitting the disease to humans through bites.
According to Dr Dahal, letters have already been sent to 35 local units that recorded the highest number of dengue cases last year, instructing them to implement control and prevention measures.
Since January 1, a total of 968 dengue cases have been reported in the country. In 2024, dengue spread to 76 districts across the country, resulting in 41,865 infections and 15 deaths.
