Dengue cases surge in Kathmandu as hospitals fill up (photos)

Kathmandu, September 24 — As the number of dengue patients continues to rise, hospitals are also becoming crowded. Since the beginning of September, the influx of dengue patients in Kathmandu has increased.

At Shukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital's emergency department, the number of dengue patients is on the rise. According to Bhaleshwar Yadav, the in-charge of the emergency department, there has been a significant increase in the number of dengue-infected patients in the hospital over the past 10 days.

"On September 17, 11 patients were admitted, on September 18, 3 patients, on September 19, 23 patients, on September 20, 28 patients, on September 21, 19 patients, and on September 22, 17 patients were admitted to the emergency room. In contrast, only 53 dengue-infected patients were admitted to the hospital throughout the month of August and on September 11," Yadav stated. He also mentioned that on Sunday, the hospital discharged 20 patients in one day. According to him, the number of patients is increasing in both the emergency department and the fever clinic at Shukraraj Hospital.

Dengue infections are currently on the rise across Nepal, including in Kathmandu. Since last Poush (December-January), 11,545 people have been hospitalized due to dengue, with 6 reported deaths.

"We admit patients in the emergency room based on their condition. Some only come when their situation becomes complicated. We treat them in the ICU; if their condition is stable, we allow them to go home at their request after assessing their status. For patients coming from far away, we admit them to the ward and keep them under observation for a few days, allowing them to leave once their condition improves," Yadav said. This time, the highest number of infections is in Gandaki Province, with 5,482 cases, while Bagmati Province has reported 3,178 cases.

According to the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division (EDCD), the districts at high risk are Kaski, Tanahun, Kathmandu, Parbat, Chitwan, Gorkha, and Lalitpur. Yadav stated that with the recent halt in rainfall, the larvae of dengue have started to become active, which is leading to an increase in dengue infections.