Gandaki reports 811 dengue cases since last December

Gandaki Province has recorded 811 dengue cases since last December, with 202 cases reported in the past three weeks alone.

According to the Provincial Health Ministry, the highest number of cases were reported in Kaski (441), Tanahun (120), Lamjung (93), Gorkha (58), Baglung (32), Syangja (32), Parbat (20), Myagdi (10), Nawalpur (4), and Mustang (1).

More than half of the confirmed cases are from Pokhara Metropolitan City in Kaski, where 432 people have been infected, including 129 new cases in the past three weeks.

Last year, Pokhara became a dengue hotspot, with more than 8,600 cases reported in the city alone. Dengue claimed three lives in Pokhara. Health experts warn that the risk of dengue may increase from Shrawan to Kartik (July-October), so infection rates could rise in the coming weeks.

The Health Ministry and related authorities have stepped up efforts to reduce, prevent, and manage dengue. So far, Manang district has not reported any dengue cases this year.

Local governments are running campaigns to destroy mosquito breeding sites to prevent the spread of the disease. Health officials advise people to avoid stagnant water in places like puddles, old tires, drums, and containers, as these are breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Dengue is primarily spread by the Aedes aegypti mosquito.