Dengue fever plagues Guangdong 

Source: CCTV.com

09-08-2006 11:19

Medical Authorities in South China's Guangdong Province are fighting hard against the spread of Dengue Fever with 276 cases reported so far. Experts are predicting further rises, but say the disease is still under control. Here's Liu Yang with more. 29 cases were confirmed in just one day, on Wednesday.

Of those diagnosed earlier with the disease, 136 have recovered. But 140 patients are still struggling in hospitals.

Dengue Fever, or break bone fever, is transmitted by mosquitoes and causes pain in the head and joints. Because these are similar to flu symptoms, many people are unprepared when their conditions turn serious.

Professor Luo Huiming, Epidemiology Institute of Guangdong, said, "The disease can cause fatality without timely treatment. We are taking care not to let that happen. In general, the risk of fatality of Dengue Fever in Guangdong is low."

Cases of Dengue Fever are not evenly distributed throughout Guangdong. Most are concentrated in the capital city of Guangzhou. Provincial health authorities have ordered a stepping up of control measures to stop the disease from spreading further.

But reassurance has come from the man who blew the whistle on the 2003 SARS outbreak. Zhong Nanshan has said he thinks the situation is well under control.

Zhong Nanshan said, "Dengue Fever is preventable and curable. It won't turn into an pandemic as long as we kill the mosquitoes and maintain hygiene."

Medical staff has begun spraying insecticide across Guangdong. Meanwhile local researchers have also finished the first phase in the clinical testing of a vaccine for Dengue Fever. Reports suggest it may be ready for use later this month.

Editor:Sun Luying