KATHMANDU, Sept 24: Experts have pointed out that the dengue infection that started last June has not come under control yet even after the mid-week of September and that the risk of infection will last for another one and a half month.

"There is a risk of dengue infection for one and a half months. Everyone needs to be aware," said Gokarn Dahal, Spokesperson at the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division. As of Thursday, a total of 21,352 people have been infected with dengue across the country. 

Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Maharajgunj has reported that the number of dengue patients has increased over the past one week. According to Ram Bikram Adhikari, Information Officer at the hospital, more than 100 infected patients a day arrive in hospital for treatment in the emergency room and OPD of the hospital. As many as 65 of them are admitted and undergoing treatment. 

Yogendra Shakya, Head of the General Practice Department at the Teaching Hospital, said the number of dengue patients has doubled since a week. According to him, more than half of the 22 patients, who came to the Department, are infected with dengue.

So far, 27 people have died due to dengue infection, the department said. Out of the total number of infected people, 50 percent of infected people are in Kathmandu Valley and the number of infected people is increasing significantly in the remaining seven districts, according to the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division. The infection, which has spread to 75 districts so far, is spreading in significant numbers in 10 districts across the country.

Spokesperson Dahal informed Republica that during this period, the department has suggested every local level to conduct a 'find and destroy mosquito larvae' campaign. However, as the program has not been effective and the weather is unfavorable, dengue control is becoming a challenge. According to him, it has been found that some local levels have only formally implemented the mosquito larvae search and destroy campaign.

Dahal suggested that control will be possible only if every household member does the search and destroy mosquito larvae campaign every week. He mentioned that cleaning should be done by oneself in house and office every week as if it is destroyed and left only once, it will develop again as a mosquito.

 
• dengue
 
• epidemic
 
• Kathmandu