Cambodia warns of dengue fever outbreak

The Cambodian Health Ministry on Wednesday warned of dengue fever outbreak as the annual rainy season has begun.

The country reported 1,915 dengue fever cases in the first five months of 2016, an increase of 98 per cent from only 968 cases over the same period last year, the ministry said in a statement, adding that the virus killed four children during January to May this year -- up from just one death over the same period last year, Xinhua News Agency reported.

Health Minister Mam Bunheng urged parents to have their children sleep under mosquito nets to prevent them from being bitten by mosquitoes.

He also appealed to households to fill in puddles around houses, which are sources of mosquitoes.

Dengue fever is a viral disease transmitted through the bite of an Aedes mosquito which is a day-biting mosquito. Its symptoms include sudden onset of high fever which can last from three to seven days, severe headache, muscle pain, vomiting, and rash.

The outbreak of the virus usually begins in the rainy season from May to October.

--IANS

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