Dengue detection in Lalitpur raises the risk of a ‘triple whammy’
At least 13 of all cases of dengue infection in the Valley have reported from Lalitpur. Of them, 11 cases have reported from Tikhedewal, which is in Ward-5 of the metropolis.
“We have started a dengue search-and-destroy campaign in the affected areas. Following reports of infection of the virus in several people,” said Satis Bista, chief of Health Office Lalitpur. “We have alerted all agencies concerned about the risk of the spread and asked them to take preventive measures.”
Dengue is a mosquito-borne disease, transmitted by female Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes. The same vector also transmits chikungunya, yellow fever and Zika viruses, according to the World Health Organisation.
Although post-monsoon is considered a high transmission season for the this virus. Nepal has witnessed outbreaks of the deadly disease in the pre-monsoon, monsoon and post-monsoon seasons.
Experts warn that the timing of the dengue outbreak is serious, as the country has already been dealing with a double whammy—outbreak of cholera and resurgence of Covid-19.
“We used to talk about double whammy, but there is a chance of a triple whammy—surge in Covid-19 cases, cholera and dengue,” said Dr Baburam Marasini, former director at the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division.
