Khotang: Cases of dengue and scrub typhus are on the rise in Khotang district, according to the District Health Office (DHO), Khotang. Altogether 12 dengue cases and 14 scrub typhus cases were detected in the district in the month of Shrawan alone.
According to National News Agency Nepal, Jivan Prasad Chaulagain, Chief of the DHO, mentioned that two patients infected with each of dengue and scrub typhus were referred to Kathmandu for further treatment. The health condition of the infected individuals is gradually improving, he stated.
The district, which comprises 10 local levels, is witnessing an increasing number of mosquito-borne and bacterial infections recently. The data show that six men and six women are infected with dengue, while nine men and five women are suffering from scrub typhus.
Some patients have returned home after recovery, though several are still undergoing treatment at the District Hospital, said Dr. Rupesh Sangraula, Chief of the District Hospital in Khotang. He noted that issues of dengue and scrub typhus are common during the monsoon season but expressed concern over the Hospital’s lack of facilities to treat severe cases.
Dr. Sangraula also reported a surge of patients with ailments other than dengue and scrub typhus at the District Hospital, with approximately 150-200 patients visiting daily. “We are facing problems in rendering services to the patients due to a lack of necessary equipment and adequate beds,” added Sangraula.
In response to the rising cases, an all-party meeting in Diktel on Sunday decided to launch a ‘Larvae Search and Destroy’ campaign across all 10 local levels. This preventive measure aims to search for and eliminate infection-bearing mosquito larvae.