Myanmar says dengue fever kills 30 this year

YANGON, July 9 (Reuters) Dengue fever has killed 30 people in army-ruled Myanmar this year, a Yangon newspaper reported today, the latest country hit by the mosquito-borne virus spreading across Southeast Asia.

''There have been 3,000 cases of dengue and 30 deaths in the first six months of the year. This is much higher than in the same period last year,'' Than Winn, a senior Health Ministry official, told the Myanmar Times newspaper.

He did not say how many people died in the first half of 2006, but the toll for the whole year was 130. More than 11,000 people were infected with the disease last year.

''We can't say yet whether epidemic conditions will develop this year,'' Than Winn said.

Warmer weather and heavy rains have helped the mosquito-borne virus spread through the region, killing hundreds and infecting tens of thousands in Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and Malaysia.

Some experts have said 2007 could be the worst year on record for the disease, which can cause severe fever, headaches, rashes and muscle and joint pain. A more severe form can cause haemorrhagic fever.

Last month, Cambodia appealed for international help to fight dengue, which has killed more children early in this year's wet season than in all of the last.

The virus, which generally strikes during the June-September wet season, has put a severe strain on hospitals across the region.

In Yangon, staff at the Children's Hospital told Reuters they were struggling to cope with the daily influx of infected children.

''We are having difficulties, but provincial hospitals will have more trouble coping due to a lack of paediatricians and drugs,'' said a hospital worker who declined to be named.

REUTERS SV ND1456