Kathmandu, May 20 -- Monsoon is just around the corner. And health issues linked to the season are already surfacing.

Along with a surge in dengue infections, hospitals in Kathmandu have already reported a rise in waterborne and foodborne illnesses, as well as snakebite cases.

According to Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital, at least seven patients infected with the dengue virus were admitted to the hospital in recent days. On Sunday alone, seven snakebite victims sought emergency care at the hospital, which is also seeing six to eight diarrhoeal cases daily.

"The number of water-borne, food-borne, and snakebite cases has risen in our hospital of late," said Dr Yuba Nidhi Basaula, director at the hospital. "Everyone must...