Publication: The Double Burden of COVID-19 and Dengue in Nepal: The challenges ahead
Date
2021
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kathmandu University
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused significant impact on
the health care system. As a consequence, diagnosis and treatment of vector borne
diseases including dengue has been equally affected. Nepal is no exception to this,
where COVID-19 cases is exponentially increased and all resources are concentrated
on its prevention, control and management. Dengue, one of the major vector-borne
diseases in Nepal, is apparently overlooked despite approaching the peak season
of the disease. The aim of this paper is to describe the double burden of COVID-19
and dengue in Nepal, particularly highlighting the co-circulation and possible co-
infections. This has posed higher risk of increased severity, more severe cases and
deaths in Nepal. Moreover, potential misdiagnosis of these viral diseases may lead to
delayed or, inappropriate treatment and poor allocation of resources.
KEY WORDS
Co-infection, COVID-19, Dengue, Nepal
Description
Pandey K,1 Dumre SP,2 Dhimal M,3 Pun SB,4 Shah Y,5 Fernandez S,6 Morita K,7 Pandey BD8
1Central Department of Zoology,
Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Nepal
2Central Department of Microbiology,
Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Nepal
3Nepal Health Research Council,
Kathmandu, Nepal
4Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Diseases Hospital,
Kathmandu, Nepal
5Everest International Clinic and Research Center,
Kathmandu, Nepal
6Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences,
Bangkok, Thailand
7Institute of Tropical Medicine,
Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
8Ministry of Health and Population,
Government of Nepal, Kathmandu, Nepal
Keywords
Co-infection, COVID-19, Dengue, Nepal