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 according to dpa. 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, Xinhua quoted Director of the Local Emergency Department Patrick Portecop as saying. 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. Army troops were called out Monday to join an anti-mosquito campaign. Dengue fever is an acute contagious viral disease, which occurs widely in tropic regions. The symptoms of dengue fever are characterized by high fever, headaches and muscle and joint pains.
