TNA wrote:
Health officials on alert for dengue fever after 4 deaths

BANGKOK, Feb 17 (TNA) – Public health offices throughout Thailand were on alert for dengue fever after the disease have so far killed four people this year, with the accumulated number of patients soaring to 2,824 in just over a month, said Dr. Praj Boonyawongvirot, permanent secretary for Public Health.

The alarming figures were recorded from January 1 to February 9 this year, Dr. Praj said. As many as 70 per cent of patients were in provinces in the Central region, he added.

In the same period of 2007, there were 1,702 patients and no deaths reported, Dr. Praj noted. During calendar 2007, 29 people died of dengue fever while the number of patients stood at about 60,000.

Dr. Praj said there were signs the number of dengue fever patients would rise this year due to the effects of global warming and striped mosquitoes – which carried the disease – were now able to give birth faster and better withstand drought. (TNA)