2009-03-13

    WELLINGTON, March 13 (Xinhua) -- There have been over 3,000 dengue
fever cases reported in French territory of New Caledonia, including two
fatalities, since the beginning of this year, according to latest
official figures released on Friday.

    New Caledonia's health and social department, in its latest
bulletin, confirmed 3,172 cases since Jan. 1, the Oceania Flash reported.

    The figures also showed a spiraling trend, month by month, with482
new cases for January, 1,557 cases in February and 1,133 new cases less
than two weeks into March.

    Earlier this week, the French government announced special funds to
step up the fight against the intense epidemic.

    Medical authorities at the main Gaston Bourret territorial hospital
in Noumea have also expressed concern that their outpatients and
emergency services were now overstretched due to patients seeking
medical advice for dengue-like symptoms.

    Medical authorities were now calling on the local government to act
swiftly and set up a special dengue monitoring and outpatient unit, so
as to relieve the burden on the general services.

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