KATHMANDU: Dengue is rapidly spreading throughout Nepal, as indicated by the 19,599 verified cases reported by the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division. The disease has taken the lives of nine people so far.

There have been reports of dengue in 76 districts, with 3,103 cases in Kathmandu being the most severe. Additionally, Tanahun has 2,107 cases, Parbat has 1,562 cases, and Kaski has 2,847 instances.

Additional districts with significant numbers of infections are Chitwanwith 971 cases, Lalitpur with 827, Gorkha with 588, Baglung with 610, Bhaktapur with 355, and Syangja with 335 cases.

Dengue is expected to become much more dangerous as the post-monsoon season approaches, according to Dr. Sher Bahadur Pun, specialist on infectious disease at Shukraraj Tropical and Communicable Disease Hospital Teku.

He mentioned that more dengue patients were coming to the hospital after Dashain, which could mean that the infection is spreading among local communities.

Dengue is an insect-borne disease that is spread by the bite of a female Aedes aegypti mosquito. This mosquito is known to flourish in humid, stagnant water environments, which are more common during the monsoon and post-monsoon seasons.

It is recommended that people cover their bodies when they are outside, fill potholes, repair water leaks, and keep water containers closed to avoid mosquito bites. Additionally advised is the usage of mosquito netting when sleeping and routine cleaning of water tanks. 

The best defense against the virus is prevention because there is no specific antiviral treatment for the illness.