CHITWAN: Two people have been confirmed with dengue and six with scrub typhus in Chitwan so far this month.
According to the Public Health Office, dengue has been detected in two local residents, a woman from Kalika Municipality and a man from Ichchakamana Rural Municipality.
Similarly, scrub typhus has been confirmed in six local residents. The office said one man and four women from Bharatpur Metropolitan City and one man from Ratnanagar Municipality tested positive for the disease.
In addition, two patients who came to Chitwan from other districts for treatment were also found to be infected with dengue, while 28 such patients were confirmed with scrub typhus. With these cases, the total number of dengue infections recorded in Chitwan this month has reached four, while scrub typhus infections have risen to 34.
Public Health Office data show that 178 people have been tested for dengue and 211 for scrub typhus so far. No deaths have been reported from either disease, according to vector control inspector Ram KC.
KC said the Find and Destroy Larvae campaign has been launched in coordination with local governments as the risk of dengue is expected to increase in the coming months. The campaign began in Ichchakamana Rural Municipality, and awareness programs are also being conducted in other municipalities.
Female community health volunteers, health workers, security personnel, and local representatives are participating in the campaign, which focuses on raising awareness and identifying and destroying mosquito breeding sites.
As this is the peak dengue season, KC urged residents to prevent water from stagnating in places where mosquitoes can breed. He advised regular inspection of courtyards, surrounding bushes, discarded tires, flower pots, and other areas where water may collect.
He also warned that scrub typhus becomes more active during the rainy season and recommended clearing bushes around homes and taking precautions while cutting grass or visiting fields and forests. People should wear clothing that fully covers the body and avoid tick bites.
KC urged anyone experiencing fever, headache, body aches, or eye pain to seek testing at a health facility immediately, as the risk of both dengue and scrub typhus rises during the monsoon season.
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