KATHMANDU: The government has urged 13 local governments to adopt precautionary measures against the spread of dengue infection.

Dr. Gokarna Prasad Dahal, Chief of the Vector-Borne Disease Section at the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division, stated that the call for vigilance was issued after dengue cases were detected in these specific local units.

Dr. Dahal explained that the division has been monitoring the status of dengue infections across all local levels since mid-December.

He noted that while sporadic cases have been observed in other areas, these 13 local levels have reported up to five cases each, prompting official correspondence to encourage preventive actions.

The identified areas include Siddhicharan Municipality in Okhaldhunga; Bhadrapur, Birtamod, and Mechinagar Municipalities, and Kachankawal Rural Municipality in Jhapa; Dharan Sub-Metropolitan City in Sunsari; Beni Municipality in Myagdi; Bharatpur Metropolitan City in Chitwan; Butwal Sub-Metropolitan City in Rupandehi; Hetauda Sub-Metropolitan City in Makwanpur; Kamalamai Municipality in Sindhuli; and Lalitpur Metropolitan City in Lalitpur.

Approximately 600 people have been infected since mid-December. Dr. Dahal added that the current rainfall is not expected to significantly increase the infection rate at this time.