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Workers spray insecticide in Guangzhou to help control mosquitoes as the province braces for dengue fever season. File picture

Spike in early cases point to another severe year for dengue fever in southern China

Thirty cases recorded so far in Guangdong province is nearly twice as many as last year

Health authorities in Guangdong have warned of a rising tide of dengue fever cases in the province in the coming months with the number of reported cases almost doubling so far this year.

The province has recorded 30 dengue cases as of Sunday, a 170 per cent increase from the same period of last year, the Yangcheng Evening News reported. No deaths or serious cases has been reported so far.

Last year, Guangdong saw one of its worst dengue outbreaks in many years, with more than 38,000 cases, including six deaths, recorded by late October.

Authorities said this season’s cases include three that were contracted locally while the remainder were imported to the province by travellers returning from Southeast Asia or other provinces. These included 12 cases in Guangzhou, nine in Shenzhen, two in Shaoguan and one each in Zhanjiang, Shanwei, Qingyuan and Dongguan. 

The first locally contracted case was confirmed on April 11, two months earlier than previous years, health authorities said, citing more frequent business and tourist travel to regions where dengue is common in the wet season.

Guangdong’s dengue fever season typically runs from June to November, and authorities warned residents to take necessary precautions such as regularly removing stagnant water. Anyone suffering symptoms such fever, body rash or muscular pain should seek medical attention.

The virus is spread from person to person by Aedes mosquitoes. Dengue has four strains: people who contract one strain usually do not have severe symptoms and develop lifelong immunity to that strain. However, those infected by another strain have a higher risk of developing complications including dengue haemorrhagic fever.

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