Kathmandu: In Bagmati Province, a total of 42,459 cases of dengue have been reported in the current fiscal year, resulting in the unfortunate loss of 27 lives. Among the affected districts, Kathmandu had the highest number of dengue patients with 14,500 cases, while Rasuwa had the fewest cases.

These findings were shared by Dr. Rabin Bhusal, the Information Officer of Bagmati Province's Health Ministry, during a program held to announce the conclusions of a dengue-related study conducted by the Health Ministry in five districts of the province.

The study, which took place from March 24 to May 1, 2023, involved the examination of 1,623 containers filled with water from 547 households. Out of the 1,623 containers, the dengue-spreading mosquito virus was detected in 170 containers from 133 households. Deepak Kumar Shah, a Junior Entomologist from the Vector Borne Disease Research and Training Centre in Hetauda, provided this information during the program.

According to the study, the highest concentration of the dengue virus was found in discarded tires, followed by drinking water tanks. The virus was also detected in water jars, drums, water bottles, and even refrigerators. The presence of the dengue virus in refrigerators highlights the need for increased vigilance.

During the program, various officials such as Acting Secretary Deepak Tiwari, Director of Health Directorate Maheshwor Shrestha, Senior Public Health Administrator Satish Bista, and Dean of Madan Bhandari Academy of Health Sciences Durga Khadka Mishra emphasized that this study would serve as a foundation for policy-level activities and implementation strategies to control the impact of dengue and combat the disease.

Health workers from Makawanpur and Chitwan districts, who are actively involved in managing the disease, were also present at the event.