Kathmandu [Nepal], July 24 – Ninety women screened in Kathmandu have tested positive for the human papillomavirus (HPV) a virus that causes most cases of cervical cancer after a random screening programme conducted by the Kathmandu Metropolitan City.
Health officials said the women showed no symptoms and were unaware they were infected until they underwent testing during the city’s cervical cancer screening campaign.
According to the municipal health department, 12 women tested positive for HPV-16 and 13 for HPV-18, the two high-risk strains responsible for around 70 percent of cervical cancer cases worldwide. The remaining 65 women were infected with other HPV types.
The screening programme was conducted between March 30 and May 4 covering 2,975 women. Of these 2,779 underwent HPV DNA testing while 1,450 received genotype testing to identify specific HPV strains. Due to a limited supply of testing kits only 1,329 women were screened specifically for HPV-16 and HPV-18.
“The findings show that many women who consider themselves healthy may be living with cancer-causing viruses without knowing it,” said Chandra Bhatta, concerned person for the metropolis’ cervical cancer screening programme.
Officials said the results highlight the presence of multiple HPV strains among women in Nepal not just the high-risk HPV-16 and HPV-18 variants. They noted that while types 16 and 18 carry the highest risk of developing into cervical cancer other HPV types can also pose health concerns and require follow-up monitoring.
Cervical cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer deaths among women in Nepal. Health experts estimate that at least four Nepali women die from the disease every day underscoring the importance of regular screening and early detection.
