BERNAMA/XINHUA – Cambodia had reported 4,668 dengue fever cases in the first half of 2023, a sharp increase of 62.7 per cent from 2,869 cases over the same period last year, a top health official announced.
“The disease claimed 10 lives during the January-June period this year, slightly up from seven deaths in the same period last year,” National Dengue Programme manager and deputy director of the National Centre for Parasitology and Malaria Control Leang Rithea told Xinhua.
He said the capital Phnom Penh and the provinces of Kandal, Tboung Khmum, Banteay Meanchey and Siem Reap recorded the highest numbers of dengue cases.
“Stagnant water acts as a breeding ground for mosquitoes, which are the primary carriers of the dengue virus. By neglecting to clean or change the water, individuals provide an ideal environment for mosquitoes to reproduce, leading to a higher risk of dengue transmission,”
he said.
