Philippines raises alarm over dengue fever, 108 dead so far*

May 11, 2008, 5:44 GMT

Manila - The Philippines' health department on Sunday raised alarm over
dengue fever in the country, where 108 people have died so far of the
disease.

The number of fatalities recorded from January 1 to April 5 was 46 per
cent higher than 74 deaths in the same period last year.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque said he has ordered all department
personnel to step up the campaign to urge residents to clean up their
homes and environment.

'We urge the public to get rid of anything that can become breeding
sites for mosquitoes,' he said. 'That is the best way to fight dengue.'

The health department also recorded a total of 9,176 dengue cases from
January 1 to April 5, up 34 per cent from the same period last year.

Fifty-three per cent of the patients were males, with the youngest only
being one month old and the oldest at 87 years old.

In 2007, 407 people died from dengue in the Philippines, while a total
of 43,938 cases were reported.

Dengue, which is contracted through mosquito bites, is an infectious
tropical fever causing acute pain in the joints. Symptoms include loss
of appetite, general weakness, nausea and vomiting.