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Soaring Dengue Fever Deaths In Southeast Asia Prompts Epidemic Warning From WHO
July 25, 2007

Manila, Philippines (AHN) - The World Health Organization (WHO) believes that the number of deaths from dengue fever this year may match the 1,500 fatalities recorded in 1998 as people continue to die from the disease caused by a type of mosquito, a local newspaper reported.

A WHO official, speaking from the international body's regional office in Manila, told the Manila Times that this year could be as worst as 1998 in terms of dengue casualties.

The number of dengue deaths this year from Southeast Asian countries support the statement of John Ehrenberg, advisor for malaria and other diseases at the WHO.

Indonesia leads the the list with 1,000 deaths so far.

Cambodia recorded nearly 15,000 cases with 182 deaths in the first six months of the year.

A total 81 died from Philippines in the first half while in Malaysia, 44 died from 16,214 cases recorded in the first four months of 2007.

In Myanmar, there were 30 deaths out of 30,000 cases while in Thailand there were 18 deaths in 19,000 cases from January to June.

The rich city-state of Singapore was not spared recording 3,600 cases but with no reports of death.

Besides having no treatment, Ehrenberg point to the spread of dengue in remote rural areas as another reason of the epidemic.

"This was a disease we used to associate with overcrowding in major urban centers. But today it is even finding its way into remote rural areas as well," the Manila Times quoted him as saying.

A bite of the white-spotted mosquito known as Aedes aegypti causes the disease. Child and old people, who have weak immune system, are at high risk of dying from internal bleeding caused by the virus.

The Aedes aegypti thrives in the warm and wet tropical weather, so health authorities advise controlling the mosquitoes' breeding ground as the best way to fight the disease.

Officials of Taguig City, like other city governments in Metro Manila, try to keep the public informed on ways how to prevent mosquitoes from breeding in their communities. City health workers with ambulance also make the rounds looking for children with fever.

The city's health officials further advised people who have symptoms of dengue to their community health centers or to the district hospital for testing.

http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7008008807