Attachments
Description of the Event
Date of event 2023-06-13
What happened, where and when?
From June to December 2023, 51,243 dengue cases were confirmed in Nepal with 20 deaths affecting 77 districts (EDCD Dengue Situation Update). This was the very first time that dengue has occurred in consecutive years, contrary to the usual cyclical pattern of dengue incidence in Nepal, which typically manifests every year instead of every two years as in previous decades. In December 2022, the reported cases were slightly over 54,000 with at least 88 deaths due to dengue (edcd.gov.np). Despite dengue being endemic in Nepal, there were previously sporadic cases, resulting in relatively low levels of knowledge and awareness among the populace. Even dengue prevention was not prioritized until recent years, but this year (2023), the Government of Nepal took proactive measures in responding to the dengue situation through joint planning and implementation.
The number of dengue cases reached its peak in 2022, and NRCS carried out preventive measures only after the government declared an outbreak. However, the response was suboptimal, as most hospital capacities were overwhelmed, and the mortality rate increased significantly. Additionally, community-level preventive (search and destroy) campaigns were conducted during that period, but controlling mosquito breeding was challenging due to a lack of prioritization by various actors and limited community knowledge and involvement.
Therefore, in 2023, NRCS initiated early action activities, but by August 2023, the situation began to deteriorate, highlighting the urgency of the response.
The urban design of major cities in Nepal lacks in infrastructural public health aspects, along with challenging waste management systems and poor sanitation facilities, providing vectors with an optimal breeding environment. People residing in slums and urban areas with inadequate sanitation facilities are at greater risk of being affected.