Rising Scrub Typhus & dengue cases prompt health alert in Makawanpur

KATHMANDU: With the start of the monsoon season, Makawanpur has seen a significant rise in cases of scrub typhus.

Since the beginning of the month of Shrawan, the number of scrub typhus cases in the district has reached 70, according to Krishna Bahadur Mijar, the chief of the District Public Health Office.

The majority of these cases have been reported in Hetauda Sub-Metropolitan City.

In Hetauda Sub-Metropolitan City alone, 39 cases of scrub typhus have been detected. Additionally, cases have been reported in various other areas: 9 in Makawanpur Gadhi, 6 in Manahari Rural Municipality, 7 in Bakaiya Rural Municipality, 4 in Bhimphedi Rural Municipality, and 1 case each in Bagmati, Kailash, and Raksirang Rural Municipalities.

Chief Mijar urged the public to be cautious.

Dengue Cases on the Rise

In the past month, Makawanpur has also seen an increase in dengue fever cases. Since July 1, a total of 143 dengue cases have been reported in the district. Among the affected, 79 are women and 64 are men.

The highest number of dengue cases have been reported in Hetauda Sub-Metropolitan City with 104 cases, followed by 16 cases in Manahari Rural Municipality, 8 in Makawanpur Gadhi Rural Municipality, 6 in Bakaiya Rural Municipality, 3 in Bhimphedi Rural Municipality, and 1 case each in Bagmati, and Kailash Rural Municipalities.

Due to the ongoing monsoon season, which exacerbates the risk of dengue, efforts are being intensified to raise public awareness and conduct mosquito control campaigns.

The Hetauda Sub-Metropolitan City has launched an initiative to locate and eliminate mosquito larvae in the area.

The campaign includes filling stagnant water sources, searching for and destroying larvae, spraying in high-risk areas, and promoting preventive measures against dengue, as reported by Surya Prasad Tiwari, the head of the Health Division of Hetaunda Sub-Metropolitan City.