Agriculture Minister hospitalized after suffering from Dengue

Kathmandu / Sept 5: Agriculture Minister Chakrapani Khanal has been admitted to Grande International Hospital in the capital after suffering from Dengue, sources said.

Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital (STIDH) had confirmed that the minister was suffering from Dengue during the preliminary health check-up on Wednesday. Subsequently, he was referred to Grande Hospital for further treatment.

Bom Lal Giri, a press advisor to the minister, informed that the minister’s health condition has witnessed significant improvement today. “His treatment is underway,” he said Earlier, Minister Khanal suffered from headache and high fever.

Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) said earlier that it would launch sanitation and cleanliness campaign in the capital.

STIDH at Teku has witnessed at least 42 dengue patients since April. Two health workers at STIDH were also infected with dengue. There are currently 13 dengue patients admitted in the hospital.

A report prepared by the Ministry of Health states that a total of 3,025 people in Sunsari were infected by dengue in the FY 2075\76. Many received treatment in the district itself. Makwanpur recorded 83 dengue cases and Morang 81 cases in FY 2075/76.

Sher Bahadur Pun, coordinator of the clinical research unit at STIDH, says that dengue is hard to detect because its symptoms are commonplace. So he suspects the number of infected could be higher.

High fever, pain behind eyes, rashes, unconsciousness, joint ache, body ache and vomiting serve as dengue’s common symptoms. People usually tend to ignore fever, body ache, and minor unconsciousness. Due to this, a lot of dengue patients do not care about going to a clinic or hospital until it is severe. Even when they visit clinics, they are provided with the medicine, like Flexon to reduce body ache.

Dengue fever is transmitted by Aedes mosquito infected with dengue virus. This mosquito species has white markings on the legs. While normal mosquitoes breed in dirty water and normally bite in the evening or at night, dengue carriers breed in clean water and bite during daytime.

Doctors and medical experts categorize dengue as menacing disease that impacts one’s whole lifetime. If not cured on time, dengue hemorrhagic fever can cause severe bleeding, a sudden drop in blood pressure, shocks and sometimes can even lead to death.

In order to prevent the spread of dengue mosquitoes, doctors and health experts advise people to keep their surrounding area clean. Potholes and empty spots should be kept free from standing water.