KATHMANDU: Dengue infection has spread widely across Nepal, affecting 73 districts, according to the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division.
Since the beginning of 2024, a total of 1,657 cases have been reported from January 1 to July 18.
Notably, Mustang, Dolpa, Humla, and Jumla have reported no cases until now, while Mugu district, previously unaffected, reported its first cases last month, totaling two infections.
In terms of provinces, Bagmati Province has seen the highest impact, with 570 reported cases, accounting for 34.4 percent of the total infections.
In contrast, the Karnali Province has reported the fewest cases.
The top ten districts with the highest infection rates include Kathmandu, Jhapa, Chitwan, Makwanpur, Okhaldhunga, Tanahu, Bhojpur, Doti, Sindhupalchowk, and Kavrepalanchok.
This situation underscores the widespread nature of the dengue outbreak across Nepal, with varying degrees of impact observed across different regions and districts.
It should be noted that Nepal recorded its first five deaths from dengue in 2010.
Over the following years, the toll varied: one death in 2015, one in 2016, three in 2017, three in 2018, six in 2019, four in 2020, and five in 2021.
The year 2022 marked a grim peak with 88 deaths, the highest recorded so far. In 2023, the toll decreased, with 20 fatalities attributed to dengue infection.
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