KATHMANDU: Dengue fever has spread rapidly throughout Nepal, affecting 73 districts, according to the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division. Between January 1 and July 18, 2024, 1,657 instances were documented. Although the districts of Mugu, which had not previously seen dengue, reported its first two cases last month, Mustang, Dolpa, Humla, and Jumla have not been afflicted.

The province that has been impacted the most is Bagmati, with 570 cases, or 34.4 percent of all illnesses. The least number of occurrences, however, have been reported in Karnali Province. The 10 districts with the highest infection rates are Tanahu, Bhojpur, Doti, Sindhupalchowk, Kavrepalanchok, Jhapa, Makwanpur, Okhaldhunga, and Kathmandu.

This widespread dengue outbreak highlights the varying degrees of impact across different regions and districts in Nepal. The situation underscores the need for heightened awareness and control measures to address the dengue spread effectively.

The history of dengue in Nepal demonstrates erratic death rates. The first five dengue-related deaths in the country occurred in 2010. In the years since, the number of fatalities has varied: one in 2015, one in 2016, three in 2017, three in 2018, six in 2019, four in 2020, and five in 2021. 2022 was the deadliest year with 88 deaths, whereas 2023 saw fewer dengue fever-related deaths.