With the rise in the number of dengue patients, Pokhara Metropolitan City has started a drive to destroy mosquito larvae in dengue affected areas.

According to Yam Baral, Vector Control Inspector of the District Public Health Office (DPHO) in Kaski, 20 more patients were diagnosed with dengue—a mosquito-borne disease more prevalent in Tarai districts—on Tuesday. With this, the number of dengue patients in the district has reached 185 within the past one and a half months.

The patients are undergoing treatment in Fewa City Hospital, Gandaki Medical College, Manipal Teaching Hospital, Charak Memorial Hospital, Pokhara Academy of Health Sciences and other Pokhara-based health institutions.

“Twenty-seven patients are receiving treatment in various hospitals while the others have already returned home following treatment,” said Baral. Three of the critically ill patients were sent to Kathmandu for further treatment, he added.

The disease, which was first diagnosed in Pokhara-8, has spread to various parts of Pokhara valley now. Residents of ward no 8, 5, 9 and 15 of Pokhara Metropolitan have been greatly affected by the disease.

The Health Division of Pokhara Metropolis and the DPHO have started to destroy mosquito larvae throughout Pokhara. They have also been carrying out awareness campaign to control the disease.

Hemanta Sharma, chief of the Pokhara Metropolis Health Division, said the health workers have started to destroy mosquito larvae in all 32 wards.

“We have already started a sanitation campaign,” said Sharma, adding that the respective ward offices are active in the sanitation campaign.

Health officials have requested the public to take necessary precaution and visit the nearest health facilities if they feel unwell.

According to Sharma, the deployed health officials have identified the breeding grounds of mosquitoes and started a ‘search and destroy’ campaign.

“We found that the disease was spread by the stagnant water in tyres, drums and broken glass bottles,” he added.

This is the first time that such a large number of dengue patients have been reported in Pokhara. Ward Chairman of Pokhara-8 Rudranath Baral said his office has initiated an awareness campaign. He said various social organisations and stakeholders are also involved in a door-to-door awareness campaign.

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.

Dengue case reported in Dharan

DHARAN: The Dharan Sub-Metropolitan City is on a high alert to control dengue after the disease was reported in the town four days ago. The Sub-metropolis held an emergency meeting on Tuesday and decided to destroy the mosquito larvae immediately. A 30-year-old man from Bhojpur, who has been staying temporarily in Dharan-10, was diagnosed with the disease. “We have started to spray medicine to destroy mosquito larvae,” said acting Mayor Manju Bhandari.