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22 new cases of dengue reported in Pokhara

by LAL PRASAD SHARMA, POKHARA

Twenty-two new cases of dengue were reported in Pokhara on Tuesday, taking the number of patients infected with the mosquito-borne disease to 69 in the past one and a half months.

Vector Control Inspector of the District Public Health Office (DPHO) Yam Baral said that out of the 22 new patients, 12 are undergoing treatment in Fewa City Hospital, six in Gandaki Medical College and four others in Charak Memorial.

Dengue is an infectious disease usually contracted from mosquitoes belonging to the Aedes Aegypti genus. Its symptoms range from mild fever to incapacitating high fever, severe headache, pain in muscles and joints, and rashes on the skin.On Sunday, seven dengue cases were reported in Pokhara whereas 12 were reported on Monday.

“The disease has mostly affected the residents of Pokhara-8. Sixty percent of the patients are from that ward,” said Baral.However, the disease has also affected some residents of Pokhara-5, 9, 15 and 25. Some of the patients are from Parbat, Baglung, Syangja and Tanahun districts as well. Health officials have requested people to take necessary precaution and visit the nearest health facilities if they feel unwell.

The Health Division of Pokhara Metropolis and the DPHO has started awareness campaigns in various wards of the metropolis to control the disease. However, the disease has not been controlled yet. Official at the Health Division Raju Raman Neupane said the municipal authority has started a drive to destroy mosquito larvae in the affected areas.

Hemanta Sharma, chief of the Pokhara Metropolis Health Division said, “This is the first time that such a large number of dengue patients have been reported in Pokhara.” Health workers have requested local residents in Pokhara to adopt utmost caution after it found dengue-causing mosquitoes in the valley.