Kathmandu — The Ministry of Health and Population issued a public health alert on Friday after dengue fever cases in the Kathmandu Valley reached 847 confirmed cases in the first quarter of 2026 — triple the 283 cases recorded in the same period in 2025.
Doctors at Bir Hospital, Patan Hospital, and Teaching Hospital report full dengue wards and growing pressure on blood platelet supplies. Dengue's characteristic thrombocytopenia — the dangerous drop in blood platelets — has required transfusions in 12% of admitted cases this year, up from 7% last year.
Public health expert Dr. Aruna Singh told NepaliWave that the outbreak reflects two intersecting failures: urbanisation without drainage infrastructure, and years of cuts to the vector control programme. 'Aedes aegypti mosquitoes breed in clean, stagnant water. Urban Kathmandu has created the perfect environment — construction sites, blocked drains, water storage on rooftops.'
The NepaliWave public health desk has been tracking this for six weeks. We first flagged the unusual case spike in our March 7 data dispatch — three weeks before the Ministry issued any public guidance.
Symptoms: high fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, joint and muscle pain, rash. If you suspect dengue, seek care immediately. Do not take ibuprofen or aspirin — paracetamol only. Stay hydrated.