KATHMANDU: The Epidemiology and Disease Control Division (EDCD) has warned that dengue infections could surpass 60,000 cases nationwide this year, as the peak season approaches.
According to Dr. Gokarna Dahal, chief of the Insect Disease Control Branch, dengue cases typically rise in mid-July, peak in August and September, and then begin to decline.
“We are entering the high-risk period. The number of cases could increase significantly over the next four months,” he said.
With cases on the rise over the past four to five years, public health experts are urging long-term strategies to combat the disease.
“Dengue control requires a decades-long effort, not just a short-term plan,” Dr. Dahal added. “Without proper preparation, eliminating dengue will remain out of reach.”
Urbanization and poor waste management continue to be key drivers of dengue spread in cities. Uncovered water containers, discarded tires, rooftop garden pots, and open ditches provide ideal breeding grounds for Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes—the primary carriers of the virus.
Once limited to the Terai, dengue has now spread into hilly regions as well, making it one of Nepal’s most pressing public health concerns.
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