Epidemiological Characteristics of Confirmed Cases and Nepal’s Response for Prevention and Control of COVID-19

Authors

  • Sasmita Poudel West China School of Public Health, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China/Institute of Himalayan Risk Reduction, Kathmandu, Nepal

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37107/jhas.160

Keywords:

COVID-19, Epidemiology, Prevention and Control, Nepal

Abstract

Introduction: The first case of COVID-19 was reported in Wuhan, China. "COVID- 19 has already spread worldwide with the total number of 2,241, 778 confirmed cases and 152, 551 deaths. There are 31 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Nepal as of 19 April 2020." This article aims to analyze the epidemiological characteristics of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the context of Nepal and discuss prevention and control measures taken by the Government of Nepal (GoN).

Methods: The epidemiological characteristics of 31 confirmed cases in Nepal were analyzed using data available from a daily press release and Nepal situation report published by the Ministry of Health and Population, GoN. The data were analyzed and presented using SPSS and Arc GIS.

Results: Of these 31confirmed cases, 29 (93.5%) cases were imported into the country and 2 (6.5%) were suspected to be secondary cases originating in Nepal either through the family contact or community contact. Among the confirmed cases, 77.4% are males and four cases have already been recovered. The mean age of confirmed cases in Nepal is 36.7 years, with the age ranging from 19 years to 81 years with the highest number (13) reported from province 1.The highest number of cases (14) were reported on 17 April 2020.

Conclusion: The distribution of confirmed cases varied with age, sex, and geographical location. The cases are high in males, in the age group of 20-29 years, and in Udayapur district of Province 1. Most of the confirmed cases in Nepal was reported among the individuals who have recently returned to Nepal from foreign countries with evidence of local transmission in the country linked with the imported cases. Different prevention and control strategies are being implemented at the provincial and national levels with the expansion of laboratory facilities for testing COVID-19.

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Published

2020-05-15

How to Cite

Poudel, S. (2020). Epidemiological Characteristics of Confirmed Cases and Nepal’s Response for Prevention and Control of COVID-19. Journal of Health and Allied Sciences, 10(1), 30–35. https://doi.org/10.37107/jhas.160

Issue

Section

ORIGINAL ARTICLES