PAPE'ETE, Tahiti (25 Sep 2001) -- The current French Polynesia dengue fever epidemic is "one of the longest and one of the toughest," Dr. Bruno Hubert, Health Department spokesperson, said. "The epidemic now seems to be weakening but it could still last several more months," he said. About 30,000 people have contracted dengue fever since the epidemic began in January. Six children died and nearly 1,000 persons had to go to the hospital for treatment. Dengue fever is mosquito-borne and common in tropical countries. Its symptoms include fever as well as head, back, eye, muscle and joint aches and, in some persons, a rash as well. | | Tahiti's dengue epidemic worst ever Eleven persons died in French Polynesia during the last dengue fever epidemic in 1990. SOURCE - PINA |
