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Dengue creeps into Nepal’s mountains: A deadly crisis driven by climate change
This frightening spread is a direct result of climate change and urbanisation, which have allowed disease-carrying mosquitos to thrive in previously inhospitable environments.
Gokarna Dahal, Chief of the Vector Borne Disease Control Section at Nepal's Epidemiology and Disease Control Division
Dengue fever, a mosquito-borne disease that was formerly thought to be limited to lowland tropical areas, is now spreading throughout Nepal’s hilly regions, even reaching the Himalayan foothills. This frightening spread is a direct result of climate change and urbanisation, which have allowed disease-carrying mosquitos to thrive in previously inhospitable environments.
In an interview with AFP, Dr. Sher Bahadur Pun, a specialist at Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital, shed light on the rapid growth of dengue cases.
“In the last decade, it has grown exponentially,” Dr. Pun explained. “After every outbreak, the number of infected people increases. There are more mosquitoes in Kathmandu than before, and each outbreak seems more deadly.”
His observations reflect a troubling trend: dengue is not only becoming more common but also more severe with each passing year.
Dengue’s expansion in Nepal is actually setting new records. Once limited to specific regions, the disease is increasingly spreading to greater elevations. Dr. Pun underlined how dangerous this trend is, stating, “It is expanding geographically, moving up towards the mountainous regions, even up to the Himalayan foothills. We hope it does not reach an uncontrollable stage if we don’t prepare and take precautions now.”
Chief of the Vector Borne Disease Control Section at Nepal’s Epidemiology and Disease Control Division, Gokarna Dahal, discussed how dengue used to appear in Nepal in cycles, with outbreaks every two to three years. But recently, that pattern has changed. “In the last few years, dengue has been seen every year,” Dahal noted. “Sometimes it’s one cluster, then another. Our preparation now is to fight it annually.” This shift has forced health officials to constantly stay on high alert, preparing for outbreaks year-round.
Dahal also voiced his frustration at the global imbalance of climate impacts. “Nepal has a minimal contribution to global warming,” he said, “but developing countries like us are bearing the brunt. It’s an injustice.” As climate change continues to affect Nepal disproportionately, the country faces a unique double burden: limited resources to fight a rapidly spreading disease and a climate crisis that only worsens the situation.
The message from experts is clear: without increased support and proactive measures, dengue could become an unstoppable force across Nepal. As global temperatures rise, so does the urgency for international cooperation to combat diseases like dengue—before they reach truly uncontrollable levels in vulnerable regions like the Himalayas.
