Report: Dengue spreading at alarming rate in China

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Many residents wait outside the consulting room of Zhongshan No.1 Hospital on October 2, 2014, to see whether they are infected with the fatal disease.

Dengue fever is spreading alarmingly in China with over 1,000 cases surfacing every day in Guangdong province where authorities have launched a massive campaign to deal with the mosquito-borne disease.

The number might keep rising during the week-long National Day holiday starting Wednesday as people travel around in a large number, regional health and family planning commission warned today.

In the worst-hit Guangdong province on South China Sea coast, the dengue fever is at its peak with more than 1,000 new cases reporting every day since Monday, bringing the total to almost 18,000, state run Xinhua news agency reported.

The outbreak has now spread to neighbouring Guangxi province where more than 203 cases have been reported as of Thursday.The city's disease control centre has set up over 450 monitoring stations.

Besides, a warm and wet weather which is ideal for mosquito breeding is expected to continue, keeping the situation "severe", the Xinhua report said.

China launched a campaign against the dengue outbreak at the end of last month as the country suffers its worst attack in 20 years with four deaths reported.

The National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC) has attributed the outbreak to high temperatures and wet weather in Guangdong, where the mosquito population is five times the normal level.

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Citizens in Guangdong Province take measures against mosquitoes to prevent Dengue Fever.

The commission called for efforts to cut down the numbers of mosquitoes, including eliminating stagnant water where the insects breed. It also suggested people to wear long pants and long sleeves to cover their skin.

Guangzhou, the provincial capital of Guangdong, has begun distribution of free mosquito repellent and handouts for mosquito control.

The NHFPC also warned of risks of contracting the lethal Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, and urged those travelling to the Middle East to take precautions and seek early medical treatment in case they experience illness.

Dengue fever, a viral infection transmitted by mosquitoes, mostly hits tropical and sub-tropical regions. Its symptoms include fever, nausea, rashes, backache and headaches.The hemorrhagic variant, which causes severe internal bleeding as blood vessel collapse, is often fatal.