Dengue fever claims 14 lives in Saravane

VIENTIANE,23.AUG (KPL) - Dengue fever have reportedly killed 14 lives and infected 1,200 other people, said an official.
The fever has hit 245 villages in eight districts across the southern Saravane province since January, according to Dr. Oudomsak Sisana, Director of the Epidemiological Prevention Division, Provincial Health Service of Saravane.
Dr. Oudomsak said that the number of infected people was four times that recorded last year. Saravane and Lakhonepheng districts have become the most hard-hit by dengue fever in the province and eight human deaths by dengue fever have been reported in these districts, respectively.
The mosquito-borne disease has infected 379 people in Lakhonepheng and 266 people in Saravane.
The province has established a taskforce to cope with the disease outbreak and district authorities are urged to pay close attention to the prevention of the disease.
Health workers who work at village dispensaries have been trained in preventive measures against dengue fever. They are supposed to raise villagers’ awareness on dengue fever.
In addition, a mobile public education unit responsible for raising public awareness on dengue fever has been already established.