Thakur CK, Adhikari S, Dhimal M. Climate-driven dengue fever outbreaks in Nepal: Trends, challenges, and strategies. World J Virol 2024; 13(4): 95450 [DOI: 10.5501/wjv.v13.i4.95450]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Chandan Kumar Thakur, PhD, Assistant Professor, Clinical Microbiology, Karnali Academy of Health Sciences, Chandannath Municipality, Jumla 21200, Karnali, Nepal. chandanpgi@gmail.com
Research Domain of This Article
Virology
Article-Type of This Article
Letter to the Editor
Open-Access Policy of This Article
This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Meghnath Dhimal, Research Section, Nepal Health Research Council, Kathmandu 44600, Bagmati, Nepal
Author contributions: Thakur CK contributed to conceptualization, literature search, data curation, writing - original draft & editing; Adhikari S contributed to validation; reviewing & editing; Dhimal M contributed to validation & reviewing; All authors critically reviewed and approved the final version of the manuscript.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Chandan Kumar Thakur, PhD, Assistant Professor, Clinical Microbiology, Karnali Academy of Health Sciences, Chandannath Municipality, Jumla 21200, Karnali, Nepal. chandanpgi@gmail.com
Received: April 10, 2024 Revised: September 7, 2024 Accepted: September 30, 2024 Published online: December 25, 2024 Processing time: 190 Days and 15.2 Hours
Abstract
Dengue fever (DF) has become a major public health concern in Nepal, with increasing outbreaks in recent years. Transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, this climate-sensitive viral disease presents a significant challenge for healthcare providers and policymakers. Since 2004, Nepal has experienced a sharp increase in DF cases, peaking in 2022 with 54784 cases and 88 deaths. The surge, driven mainly by serotypes 1, 2, and 3, is exacerbated by climate change, which prolongs mosquito breeding seasons due to warmer temperatures and increased rainfall. This trend has even impacted previously unaffected hilly regions. Effective dengue control strategies must focus on climate change adaptation, strengthening healthcare system reinforcement, raising public awareness, and enhancing vector control measures. Government initiatives, like the national dengue control program, play a critical role, but research and community engagement are also vital for prevention and early detection. Integrating climate resilience into public health efforts is essential to reducing the dengue burden in Nepal.
Core Tip: Given the escalating threat of dengue fever in Nepal, characterized by recurrent outbreaks exacerbated by climate change, prioritizing proactive measures is essential. Healthcare providers and policymakers should focus on bolstering the healthcare system, raising public awareness, and implementing effective vector control measures. Government initiatives, such as investing in research and fostering community engagement, are critical for early detection and prevention. By integrating climate resilience into public health strategies, Nepal can effectively mitigate the burden of dengue fever on its population and safeguard against future outbreaks.
