By Nayak Paudel
Morang, June 20: As the cases of dengue are being reported from across the country and its peak time is approaching, health experts have recommended the authorities to work in dengue prevention before it becomes another burden for the government during its fight against COVID-19.
As per the weekly bulletin of Early Warning and Reporting System (EWARS) of the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division (EDCD), more than 50 cases of dengue have been reported since the beginning of 2020. The cases started surfacing on a regular basis since the 13th week of 2020.
The number of individuals testing positive for dengue is, however, said to be higher than that reported in EWARS.
“EWARS does not receive data related with dengue from every health facility due to which the number of people suffering from dengue is higher in real,” said Dr Prakash Prasad Sah, section chief at NTD and Vector-borne Disease Control Section of EDCD.
In its last weekly bulletin of 2019, EDCD mentioned that 12,100 cases of dengue were reported since the beginning of 2019.
“Dengue can be prevented to a large extent if the authorities work in eliminating the larvae of mosquitoes soon because monsoon is a proper breeding season for it,” said Dr Sher Bahadur Pun, chief medical officer at Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital.
Since dengue and COVID-19 share similar symptoms – fever, experts argue it can be another challenge for the health workers.
As per a journal ‘Covert COVID-19 and false-positive dengue serology in Singapore’ published in The Lancet, a medical journal, dengue and COVID-19 are difficult to distinguish because they have shared clinical and laboratory features.
The journal mentions that two patients in Singapore with false-positive results from rapid serological testing for dengue were later confirmed to have COVID-19.
“In recent weeks, any individual with fever is suspected of COVID-19 and a major symptom of dengue is also fever. Health workers must be careful while attending a patient with fever and analyse other symptoms carefully,” said Pun.
According to the officials at EDCD, they are concerned about preventing dengue and have already begun activities towards it.
“The local levels have been directed to search and destroy

pocket areas of larvae and mosquitoes if cases of dengue start increasing in their area,” said Sah.
Since dengue is transmitted through female mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti) which are mostly found in places with poor sanitation and places where water has accumulated, people are suggested to keep their surroundings clean as they are free during lockdown.
Since monsoon has made quarantines shabby, which can be a proper place for mosquito breeding and growth, government has been suggested being serious to minimise risk of dengue for individuals staying in quarantine.
EDCD has also directed health sector authorities across the country regarding dengue prevention through a virtual meeting already. “The health personnel have been directed to not suspect every patient with fever for COVID-19 but to look for other symptoms since fever can be a symptom of different other diseases,” said Sah.
The division has also requested the World Health Organisation to provide 10,000 testing kits for dengue.Similarly, a team has been formed at the division to look into the recent dengue outbreak.
“While government is working to prevent and control COVID-19, increase in dengue cases can add burden. The division and other authorities are working to prevent widespread transmission of dengue and to keep it under control,” said Shah.