11 Mar 2009

New Caledonia officials says dengue epidemic is getting worse

12:36 pm on 11 March 2009

Health officials in New Caledonia are worried about the worsening dengue epidemic that's affecting up to one-hundred people a day.

The four different types of dengue are transmitted by day-biting mosquitoes.

One person has died from type-four dengue in the territory this year.

The French government says it's closely following developments on the epidemic, and it recently allocated over 200,000 US dollars to assist the fight against the illness.

Our correspondent, Claudine Wery, says ten percent of the people affected have been hospitalised.

"The situation is still worsening. Since the beginning of the year we have 2665 people infected with dengue. And we have almost since the beginning of March 100 cases a day. And the authorities are worried about the development of the disease."

Claudine Wery says people are encouraged to empty out all water containers in their homes and gardens to stop the mosquitoes from breeding.