As of September 09, 2019, the number of dengue patients in the nation has increased by 52 percent.

The country recorded a total of 3,899 people affected with dengue until September 08, 2019. According to the Nepal Epidemiology and Disease Control Division, the given number of people were tested positive for dengue. The number increased by 268 cases from September 03, 2019.

Following the rapid spread of the epidemic, lawmakers have began drawing the attention from the government, who are yet to comment or take action on the alarming situation in Nepal.

“We have to make a concerted effort to contain the infection as the government cannot do much on its own. Every household and community should play a proactive role to limit the infection,” said a senior Health and Population Ministry official on condition of anonymity.

The epidemic has began claiming lives of the affected, increasing the death toll at an alarming rate.

Dengue Cases As of September 19, 2019

The dengue fever cases in Chitwan, Kathmandu and Bhaktapur is seeing a rapid upward climb, signaling the beginning of a dengue epidemic in Nepal.

• Chitwan has reported more than 2,000 cases of dengue over the last two months.
• As many as 1,170 dengue cases have been reported in Kathmandu until September 10, 2019
• Bhaktapur has recorded a total of 197 dengue cases within two weeks, as of September 18, 2019

Despite these alarming numbers, the Nepal Government has not declared a state of emergency in Nepal.

Nepal Deputy Prime Minister of Health and Population Upendra Yadav stated that there was no need to declare ‘health emergency’ in the country, while addressing the House of Representatives on September 18, 2019.

Yadav explained that dengue was a global concern as there was no vaccine or medicine to treat or control the disease.

“The most effective method to contain the outbreak is to search and destroy larvae that breed dengue causing mosquitoes. Containing dengue outbreak has become a major challenge even for the developed countries. Dengue was listed by the WHO as one of the most serious diseases,” Yadav said.

Yadav said that the Health Ministry was making the following efforts to control the disease in Nepal:

• Discouraging the use of dengue kits for their inefficacy to diagnose dengue
• Shift patients from already full Sukraraj Tropical and infectious Disease Hospital to other hospitals in Kathmandu – Bir, Civil and TU Teaching Hospitals.
• Provision of NPR 60 million to local levels for disease control
• An operation to search and destroy larvae that bred dengue causing mosquitoes
• Stationing monitoring teams in affected areas

Yadav received heavy criticism from lawmakers including Aman Lal Modi, Birodh Khatiwada, Dev Prasad Timilsina and Mina Subba among many others for failing to control the large outbreak and administer the required care for the affected.

While some NCP Lawmakers questioned Yadav’s delay in dealing with dengue, some other raised questions on his frequent visits to foreign countries during the time of crisis, among many other questions.

Dengue Cases and Deaths in Nepal

Source:NepalinData

• The disease has claimed six lives across Chitwan, Doti, Kathmandu, Sunsari and Sindhupalchowk as of September 09, 2019
• 56 of the 77 Nepali districts have been affected with Dengue
• The districts which have recently started reporting of dengue include Dolakha, Manang, Myagdi, Pyuthan, Rolpa and Rukum
• Province 3 has reported the highest number of dengue cases in the country, where 2,010 people have been tested positive for the illness. Province 3 alone contributes to 51 percent of the dengue cases in Nepal
• Gandaki Province and Province 1 have recorded 896 and 831 dengue cases, respectively
• Chitwan, Kaski and Makwanpur districts remain the most-affected with 1,036, 715 and 624 dengue cases, respectively
• Kathmandu district has also recorded a steady increase in the number of dengue patients, which has risen to 254 between September 03-09, 2019
• The number of dengue patients in Lalitpur increased to 32 during the same period, while in Bhaktapur the people infected by dengue increased to 33

Every year, the world reports about 360 million cases of dengue annually.

Human beings are infected with the dengue virus caused by the bite of the female Aedes aegypti mosquito.

The change in  Nepal’s rainfall pattern due to climate change is one of the reasons for the rise of dengue cases in the country.

“Dengue causing mosquitoes look for new habitats if their regular egg-laying habitats are destroyed,” said Ishan Gautam, Associate Professor of entomology at Tribhuvan University and employee at the Natural History Museum.

Nepali Congress Questions Ruling Party’s Silence on Dengue Epidemic in Nepal

The main opposition Nepali Congress (NC) has asked the government to announce a state of medical emergency in Nepal following the outbreak of dengue at the National Assembly meeting on September 12, 2019.

NC lawmaker Radheshyam Adhikari questioned the government saying, “Isn’t it high time for the government to announce a state of medical emergency in the country?”.

He furthers questioned, “What is stopping from doing it?” while urging the government to put in extra effort to control the disease.

Pointing that 56 out of 77 Nepali districts have been affected with dengue, he asked “Should we remind the government that this a national epidemic?”.

He warned the government stating that if they didn’t take action in time, they would have to invite unfortunate circumstances.

He criticized the government for its remark, where it said that it was not the right time and situation to announce a medical emergency since only a few people have died.

“When is your (government’s) right time to take the right step?”, questioned Lawmaker Adhikari in response to the government’s statement.

The Nepal Agriculture Minister Chakrapani Khanal and renowned ophthalmologist Sanduk Ruit are among others infected with dengue in Nepal.

What is Dengue? How to Protect Yourself from Dengue?

Source: WHO

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In an event organized by NHRC , Nepal Health and Population (NHP) Minister Upendra Yadav said that excerpts from research data will assist in formulating effective laws and policies in the Nepali health sector.

Until now, the government has been relying on expert suggestion or available data for health policy formulation.

“The Central Government has been working on the basis of available data and is, thus, managing health programs throughout the country. In the same way, local governments should also conduct scientific research to identify problems and formulate rules and regulations based on such study,” said Yadav.

Adding further he said, formulating policies based on research will help in aligning with the Nepal Government’s sustainable development goals (SDG).

NHRC Executive Chair, Dr Anjani Jha who was also present at the occasion said that the council has been conducting researches on various aspects including, communicable and non-communicable diseases, environmental pollution and global warming.

“Such studies have helped formulate sound laws and their effective implementation,” says Jha.

He also assured that the NHRC will be available to support the Nepal Government in its initiatives.

“It is our duty to conduct research on different diseases in the country so that the government can make effective schemes in the health sector. We are always there to provide them the necessary data,” said Dr Jha, while adding that the council has begun research on mental health for the first time in the country’s history.

Currently, Nepal lacks quality research centres due to which it is dependent on international non-governmental organizations.

Adding to this, Dr. Pushpa Chaudhary, Secretary, Nepal Health and Population Ministry said, “We need to develop our own research centers so that we can perform research as per the need of the government to implement proper policies from the gathered evidences of the research.”

Nepal Government has assured that it will make use of research data to set plans that will reduce diseases and arrange for facilities according to the needs of its people.

“The government of Nepal has shown a positive attitude for the health sector. The government can achieve various world health goals if plans and policies are made according to its required amount,” said Prof Paul Garner, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine.

Conclusion:
Nepal Government and its health sector are constantly working on updating and improvising the existing health practices in the country, we hope that they will be successful in establishing Nepal as one of the world leaders in the provision of healthcare.

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