KATHMANDU, OCTOBER 14As of October 23, a total of 39,230 dengue cases have been identified from 76 districts, with Koshi Province reporting highest number (61.1 per cent), followed by Gandaki Province (19.9 per cent), Bagmati Province (12.6 per cent), Sudurpaschim Province (2.9 per cent), Lumbini Province (1.7 per cent), Madhes Province (1.5 per cent) and Karnali Province (0.3 per cent). Kaski records 1,481 dengue cases so far Koshi Province CM Karki resigns ahead of trust vote According to a situation report released by the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division, dengue has claimed 20 lives so far this year.Top 10 districts with more than 500 dengue cases are Sunsari, Tanahun, Jhapa, Dhangadi, Morang, Kaski, Kathmandu, Dhankuta, Sankhuwasabha and Gorkha. The EDCD said the mortality of 20 dengue cases were associated with severe dengue shock syndrome and resulting from dengue along with other comorbidities.Dengue is a viral infection transmitted to humans through the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes.It is widespread throughout the tropics, with local variations in risk influenced by climate parameters as well as social and environmental factors.Dengue is caused by a virus of the Flaviviridae family and there are four distinct, but closely related, serotypes of the virus that cause dengue (DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3 and DENV-4).As per the EDCD, the Comprehensive Action Plan on Dengue Prevention and Control has been developed by EDCD which has been disseminated to all the provinces, districts and local levels.

It has been conducting routine surveillance of dengue cases through the Early Warning and Reporting System.The line-lists of Dengue cases have been shared with 92 local levels in 66 districts to initiate timely response.

Two separate rounds of clinical orientation on dengue with a focus on clinical case management was recently organised by the EDCD in Kathmandu and Sunsari.In July, the EDCD held a series of advocacy and sensitisation meetings involving elected representatives from various local levels in Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, Chitwan and Sunsari districts.In Kathmandu valley, these meetings took place in the presence of the Minister of Health and Population and other senior officials from the MOHP.

The advocacy meeting in Sunsari was specifically convened in response to the surge in dengue cases observed in recent months.It also claimed that the Ministry of Health and Population had initiated a campaign encouraging all public offices to conduct a cleanliness campaign in their office premises for at least 10 minutes every Friday at 10:30am.EDCD is maintaining regular communication and collaboration with the relevant levels, partners and stakeholders to enhance recording, reporting and response to dengue.A version of this article appears in the print on October 15, 2023, of The Himalayan Times .

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