Cambodia has less dengue cases in children this year, thanks to the ongoing dengue prevention efforts by the government, local media reported on Tuesday.

Statistics from the Ministry of Health show that so far this year, an estimated 4,300 children across the country have contracted dengue fever, and 68 of them have died of dengue hemorrhagic fever -- the lethal form of this mosquito-borne disease.

The death rate among children sickened by dengue is roughly half of the fatality rate during the same period last year, according to health officials.

"If we compare the situation with last year, we are doing better this year," The Cambodia Daily quoted Mam Bunheng, secretary of state for the Health Ministry, as saying. "The management of the program is going well."

In Siem Reap province, where a significant outbreak of dengue fever occurred two years ago, this year only five or six dengue cases a month were treated in Angkor Hospital for Children, where a good portion of patients from surrounding provinces come for treatment.

"We have not seen an increase in the past couple of years like we did in 2003," Ngoun Chan Theaktra, medical director of the hospital said.

Mam Bunheng said that the lower figures are testament to ongoing dengue prevention campaigns, including using insecticides to kill mosquitoes and larvae, and educating parents to protect their youngsters from the disease-carrying insects.

But health officials say the disease remains a significant concern. They hope by the end of the year, the number of dengue cases will continue to drop.

Source: Xinhua