DHARAN, Nov 11: Three persons in Dharan have been confirmed to have contracted the dengue virus. A person gets the virus after being bitten by female mosquito species called Aedes Aegypti.
Bijaypur Hospital confirmed the infection in three persons after conducting tests. The first case was identified on November 1 after a local from Dharan-10 came to the hospital for treatment. Dharan Sub-Metropolitan City then decided to take precautions and initiated a spray campaign immediately after which two others were confirmed to have contracted the virus.
Hospital Director Prabhav Khatiwada said that the three who had been diagnosed with dengue have returned home after receiving treatment.
Dengue outbreak in Dharan
“They had come to the hospital after suffering from high fever,” Khatiwada said, adding, “Blood tests confirmed dengue infection”.
The two other victims were from Dharan-15 and Dharan-16, respectively. Both were males.
An emergency meeting was called in Dharan last Monday after the infection was confirmed. It was decided to employ preventive measures and use sprays in areas where the victims lived so as to control the spread of the virus. Executive member Subhash Rai said that a spray campaign is being conducted in many wards of Dharan as per the decision.
Doctors recommend that people be extra careful during the day when the dengue mosquitoes are active. Additional Professor Dr Narayan Bhattarai of BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences (BPKIHS) who is doing a research on the dengue virus, said that tires, broken cups, empty bottles etc where water can be collected are perfect habitats for the mosquito species spreading dengue. Dr Bhattarai said, “Since the mosquitoes are active during day-light, long-sleeves should be worn during the day.”
Sudden and high fever, according to doctors, is a symptom of dengue.
This fever may last five to ten days. Severe joint and muscle pain, headache, rashes, and minor bleeding are the other symptoms.
