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Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Martinique and Guadeloupe : Dengue death toll rises to 18 in French islands

A report from Xinhua :

" PARIS, Aug. 24 : The death toll from an outbreak of dengue fever in the French Caribbean islands Martinique and Guadeloupe about six months ago has risen to 18, local media reported on Tuesday.

About 26,000 people have been infected with the mosquito-borne disease in Martinique and 13 of them have died.

Some 33,000 cases have been reported in Guadeloupe and five have died, with the fifth victim, a 16-year-old teenager, having also suffered from sickle cell anemia, an inherited blood disease, said Patrick Portecop, director of the local emergency department.

He said patients who have sickle cell anemia or diabetes must be given special care if they were infected with dengue fever.

Portecop added that no cases of hemorrhagic dengue, which is much more dangerous than the classic type, had been reported yet in Guadeloupe."

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