KATHMANDU, July 16: The Epidemiology and Disease Control Division (EDCD) has pointed out that there is a risk of the dengue infection spreading along with Zika virus and Chikungunya once the rains across the country subside. Dr Gokarna Dahal, head of the EDCD, said that there is a risk of the Zika virus, which has appeared in various parts of India, spreading to Nepal as well.
"There is also a risk of the Zika virus this year," Dr Dahal stated. He explained that the Zika virus, which has appeared in other countries in the past, has surfaced in India this year. The risk of it spreading to Nepal has increased due to the ease of transmission from India. According to the data, the Zika virus has been confirmed in seven people in India so far.
"We have an open border. The virus spreads through people who travel," he said. According to him, the Aedes species of mosquito, which is abundant in Nepal, transmits dengue, chikungunya, and the Zika virus, making the risk of Zika virus infection high.
Although the Zika virus infection has not been recorded in Nepal so far, the risk is evident, according to Dr Sher Bahadur Pun, head of the research unit at the Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital. "We cannot confirm the infection in Nepal because there is no regular testing for this virus, but the confirmed cases in India have increased the risk," he said. Dr Pun also said that if pregnant women contract the Zika virus, there is an increased likelihood of giving birth to babies with disabilities.
The Chikungunya menace
In 2015, the Zika virus outbreak in Brazil was found to have increased the birth rate of babies with very small heads. Dr Pun emphasized that since there is a similar risk in Nepal, it is important to control the population of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which transmit the dengue infection.
Dr Dahal, head of the Epidemiology Division, mentions that chikungunya has not spread in Nepal since 2080 BS. However, he says that the plan is to increase testing to control the risk. He also expressed concern about the Zika virus, saying that they are aware of the risk indicators and plan to increase testing based on those indicators.
The dengue infection leads to internal bleeding and reduces the body's white blood cell count, making patients weak. In severe cases, dengue can progress to dengue syndrome and even death," explained Dr Bimal Chalise, a specialist in tropical diseases currently treating dengue patients daily. According to recent statistics, dengue has spread across 73 districts in the past six months, confirming cases in 1,432 individuals.
Transmission of waterborne diseases during floods
The Health Education, Information, and Communication Center urges all citizens to remain vigilant as rainfall during the monsoon season can lead to contamination of water sources, increasing the risk of waterborne diseases. The rainwater runoff can contaminate the streams people rely on for drinking water. Consuming untreated water may result in diseases such as cholera, typhoid, and diarrhea, some of which can be life-threatening. Delayed treatment of cholera and diarrhea can lead to complications like dehydration and kidney failure, potentially resulting in fatalities.
According to Dr Sher Bahadur Pun, head of the Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital's research unit, another disease caused by contaminated standing water on the ground is leptospirosis. "Jaundice can develop if not treated promptly," he said. The standing water on the ground, made turbid by rain, contains bacteria called Leptospires. These bacteria are excreted in the urine of rats. Leptospires from outside sources enter the human body through small wounds.
To prevent these diseases, doctors recommend measures such as boiling water for purification, using chlorine tablets or sachets, maintaining personal hygiene, washing hands thoroughly with soap and water after using the toilet, and avoiding consumption of spoiled or stale food. Medical experts also advise that the best way to prevent dengue, chikungunya, and Zika virus is to avoid mosquito bites.
