KATHMANDU, Sept 5: Dengue infection which has been spreading in the Kathmandu Valley for three weeks has now spread from house to house, according to doctors.

More than 100 dengue patients are visiting Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital for treatment every day. “According to this calculation, 400 people including their families are being infected every day,” said Sher Bahadur Pun, chief, Clinical Research Unit, Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital. 

According to the National Epidemiology and Disease Control Division, 5,029 people were infected with dengue in the country till September 3 this year. Among the seven provinces, the highest number of cases is in Bagmati Province with 3,227 people. Similarly, dengue has been confirmed in 770 people in Lumbini province and 21 people in Province 1. Likewise, Lalitpur has the highest number of dengue cases in 1,832 people. There are 888 infected people in Kathmandu and 598 people in Makwanpur. Dengue has spread to 75 districts by Sunday.

More than 25 dengue patients are under treatment in each of the capital's main hospitals. In order to control dengue in the Valley, the government has started the process of searching and destroying mosquito larvae, according to the entomology branch of the department. “The campaign will take another 25 days,” said Uttam Pyakurel, vector inspector of the department. "This campaign has been started in every municipality of the Valley for two days in a week, now it will take 20 to 25 days," he said.

In a densely-populated city like Kathmandu, it is a challenge to quickly search for mosquitoes and destroy their larvae, so doctors suggest that other measures should be taken to avoid mosquito bites.

According to Dr Pun, dengue-carrying mosquitoes can be found everywhere, from home to office, tea shops. So, there is a risk everywhere. In such a situation, he argues that it is not enough just by hanging mosquito nets. The doctors advise everyone to adopt alternative measures to avoid mosquito bites before the larvae extermination campaign ends as it is not easy to exterminate mosquitoes quickly in the densely populated areas of Kathmandu.

As it is not possible to exterminate mosquitoes quickly in the densely-populated areas of Kathmandu, it is advisable for everyone to adopt alternative measures to avoid mosquito bites before the extermination campaign ends.

 
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