20 Mar 2008

Dengue outbreak in New Caledonia worsens

6:19 pm on 20 March 2008

The number of registered dengue cases in New Caledonia this year has passed 200.

Despite efforts to contain the spread of the mosquito-borne disease, the number of cases has grown threefold in less than three weeks.

Most of the cases have been found in the Noumea area.

In late February the pre-epidemic status was upgraded and awareness campaigns were stepped up.

In 2003, as many as 20 people in New Caledonia died of dengue fever.