South China province sees 1, 152 new dengue fever cases

GUANGZHOU - South China's Guangdong Province reported 1,152 new cases of Dengue on Sunday, boding ill for the week-long National Day holiday that begins on Oct 1, local health authorities announced on Monday.

The number continues rising with the total number of cases reaching 11,867, according to the provincial health and family planning commission.

A fatality was reported on Sunday in the provincial capital Guangzhou, bringing the death toll to four in the province, three in Guangzhou where 9,987 cases have been reported. The other was in adjacent Foshan city, where 1,254 cases were confirmed, according to the commission.

As of Sunday, 19 out of the 21 prefecture-level cities had reported dengue fever cases.

The outbreak of dengue this year is believed to be the worst in 20 years.

An increasing number of cases contracted abroad and rainy days this year contributed to the outbreak. Due to high temperatures and rainy weather in Guangdong, the mosquito population is five times the normal level.

Dengue is a mosquito-borne, potentially fatal disease that affects between 50 and 100 million people in tropical and subtropical regions every year, causing fever and muscle and joint aches.