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Though, COVID-19 pandemic, has caught everyone's eye , but the mosquito-borne disease  should not be overlooked,considering that it can  be life-threatening ,if not treated on time.

 Pokhara. 

In mid-2019,more than 1400 people had been infected by dengue in Pokhara,as reported by the Western Regional Health Directorate.  Meanwhile,in the year 2018,some 571 people were recorded to have been contaminated by the disease. Last year, Pokhara saw, not one case of the aliment, yet, cases of dengue had surged across Gandaki Province. 

However, we can't turn away from the fact that, an increase in rainfall,creates more breeding sites for mosquitoes, thus  there are greater chances of infections,given the fact that Pokhara has been receiving rainfalls of maximum magnitude for the past few days along with the prediction of more rain in the next days to come.

This app accuweather provides accurate weather forecasting along with  update on mosquito activity. 

A tropical mosquito-borne disease, Dengue fever is caused by the dengue virus which can be mild or severe.

Symptoms of Severe Dengue develops in 24-48 hours after the fever is gone away.

• Vomiting blood 
• Blood in stool 
• Belly pain or restlessness 
• Bleeding from nose or gums.

While the symptoms of mild dengue is given below which lasts for about 2-7 days and the recovery period is within a week.

It's important to take enough rest and drink necessary fluids to remain hydrated and consult to the nearest hospital, if the condition gets worsening.

It's true when they say,prevention is better than cure. So in order to stop the dengue infection, we need to protect ourselves from the pathogen carrier female mosquitoes using the following steps:

• Use insect repellant 
• Wear protective clothing 
• In the barrels which is used to store rain water,apply vegetable oil or any unscented liquid soap on the standing water. 
• Other areas containing still water like empty pots or planters needs to be emptied immediately. 
• Use gold fish in any resting water to prevent the growth of mosquitoes. 

According to Yam Baral,a vector control inspector at the public health office in Kaski district, warned that besides dengue,the mosquitoes can cause other diseases like malaria and encephalitis. Baral added that, though all our resources have been shifted towards corona control, various awareness programmes, from destroying mosquito larvae to spraying bleaching powder in the swamps had been initiated whilst monitoring several hospitals of Pokhara like Fewacity Hospital, Pokhara Institute of Health Sciences and other Pokhara based health institutions, in the medical treatment of the patients infected with dengue virus. 

The following data has been provided by Epidemiology and Disease Control Division under the Ministry of Health and Population, Department of Health Services covering the whole situation of Dengue outbreak across all Provinces of Nepal from the erstwhile years .