With 42 504 confirmed cases and 51 confirmed deaths recorded between January to October, Nepal is witnessing its largest dengue outbreak this year. Cases have been reported from all seven provinces, affecting all 77 districts in the country.
Dengue is endemic in Nepal. The last outbreak in 2019 recorded 17 999 confirmed cases and six confirmed deaths. All four serotypes of the dengue virus are known to exist in Nepal.
WHO has been supporting the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) to launch key actions to manage and coordinate the response to the dengue outbreak.
Advocacy
An interaction program with members of school and hotel associations was held in June 2022 to raise awareness about dengue. Photo Credit: WHO Nepal/S.G.Amatya
Earlier in the year pre-monsoon, WHO supported EDCD to conduct an advocacy meeting in collaboration with the school and hotel association to raise awareness about dengue. This was followed by a series of high-level advocacy and interaction programs in Bagmati and Lumbini Provinces to enhance multistakeholder engagement in dengue prevention and control.
Coordination
An interaction program with local elected representatives was held in September 2022 to advocate local governments to accelerate dengue prevention and control efforts. Photo Credit: WHO Nepal/S.G.Amatya
As cases began to surge in August, the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division (EDCD) conducted virtual meetings with provinces, districts, and local levels to review the current epidemiology and the responses required. Similarly, a technical discussion to review the preparedness and map out strategic interventions for the dengue outbreak in the country was held.
Clinical Management
A series of orientations on clinical case management of dengue was held for physicians in September 2022 in Kathmandu, Nepal. Photo Credit: WHO Nepal/A.Maharjan
A total of 300 physicians and medical officers were trained in the case management of dengue fever, and referral of dengue patients, in a hybrid program which included physical participation of Kathmandu-based health care workers and virtual attendance from the provinces.
Laboratory
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(Left) Dr Rajesh Sambhajirao Pandav, WHO Representative to Nepal, handing over dengue diagnostic kits to the MoHP. (Right) Diagnostic kits handed over by WHO.
WHO donated 30 000 diagnostic kits to Nepal and has also provided technical and logistical support for carrying out dengue serotyping. This includes assistance to develop a standard operating protocol for blood sample collection, facilitation of sample collection from nine hospitals across the country, and providing the National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL) with reagents to carry out serotyping.
Risk Communication
IEC materials in the Nepali language have been disseminated across the country with WHO support.
IEC materials have been developed and disseminated to subnational levels in coordination with National Health Education, Information and Communication Centre (NHEICC) and disseminated to subnational levels. A month-long radio campaign was launched in September with WHO support. Similarly, WHO assisted the production of video messages from senior officials at MoHP and a demonstration video on search and destroy.
Surveillance
Dengue is mainly transmitted by the Aedes Aegypti mosquito (pic.). Photo Credit: WHO Nepal/S.G.Amatya
WHO continues to monitor the situation and provide support for epidemiological analysis of dengue cases. This includes the preparation of the daily situation reports on dengue which is being shared on the EDCD website since 31 August. The reports are also shared with key stakeholders at the district and provincial levels to initiate prompt action and response.
Vector Control
WHO assisted EDCD in the development of a standard operating procedure for vector control activities, to carry out search and destroy campaigns in Lalitpur and Kathmandu, and to strengthen vector surveillance activities in high-case reporting districts in Bagmati and Lumbini Provinces.
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