GANDAKI: Seven individuals, including three men and four women, have died due to dengue infection in Gandaki Province.
The Ministry of Health reported that a 48-year-old man from Tanahun passed away on July 25 due to the illness.
Since then, the toll has risen to include a 40-year-old man from Kaski who died on August 6, a 52-year-old woman from Kaski on August 15, and a 61-year-old man from Myagdi on September 4.
Recent data indicates that three women, aged 81, 70, and 75, also succumbed to the disease in Kaski during September and October.
Prashant Raj Sharma, Information Officer and Senior Health Education Officer at the Ministry, stated that 12,726 dengue cases have been confirmed in Gandaki since January 2024.
He noted that Pokhara, the provincial capital, has been particularly hard-hit, with 6,452 confirmed cases reported in Pokhara Metropolitan City alone.
The outbreak began with 70 cases reported in January, but the number surged to over 12,500 in the subsequent nine months.
The increase in infections has been particularly pronounced since July last year, with 728 cases reported in July, 4,083 in August, and 6,720 in September.
Kaski has recorded the highest number of infections at 6,548, while Manang has the lowest with just two cases.
Other areas affected include Tanahun with 2,861 cases, Parbat with 1,146, Gorkha with 664, Baglung with 539, Syangja with 443, Myagdi with 213, Nawalpur with 181, Lamjung with 120, and Mustang with nine.
Doctors have warned of an increased risk of dengue infection from June to November.
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