Significant numbers of Aedes- aegypti and Aedes-albopicitus mosquitoes that spread dengue and chikungunya have been found in Nepali capital Kathmandu in the recent surveillance carried out by District Public Health Office ( DPHO), Kathmandu, local media reported Monday. According to Monday's Republica daily report, the team led by entomologist Sishir Panta that conducted a week-long surveillance in various parts of Kathmandu last week, has submitted its report to DPHO on Sunday with proofs of vectors. "They brought some Aedes-aegypti and Aedes-albopicitus mosquitoes found in various locations of Kathmandu," Chief of Kathmandu DPHO Mahendra Prasad Shrestha was quoted by the daily as saying showing the specimens. Shrestha said that the report will be forwarded to the Department of Health Services and the Health Ministry. The DPHO has deployed 70 health workers in door-to-door awareness program after learning about high prevalence of dengue vectors in Kathmandu, Xinhua reported. Entomologist Panta said humidity and rising temperatures provide favorable environment for the vectors to spread. People store water in households due to water shortage providing habitat for dengue spreading Aedes-aegypti mosquitoes which live in clean water and bite during daytime. The DPHO also urged the people of capital to cover the water if they have to store. The vectors also reside in water collected in plastic cups, used tires, broken bottles, flower pots and other objects thrown everywhere. Panta said capital is at risk of dengue outbreak any time. Dengue fever is mild like other normal fevers but a secondary infection is extremely dangerous as it can lead to dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF). DHF starts with severe headache, muscle and joint pains, fever and rash. The joint pain is so severe that the disease is nicknamed break-bone fever and it ultimately results in bleeding from joints all over the body.
