Over 3,000 dengue fever cases reported in New Caledonia

WELLINGTON, March 13 (Chinese media) -- 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.