There were 192 cases of dengue fever reported in Arakan State this year from January 1 to June 10, according to a source from the state’s Department of Public Health (DPH).

The figure represents a notable rise compared with last year, when 94 cases of dengue fever were recorded in Arakan State from January 1 to June 15.

The Arakan State capital Sittwe accounted for 18 of this year’s cases, with Taungup Township reporting 38 cases, Maungdaw Township recording 22, Ramree Township having 31, Kyaukphyu Township tallying seven, and Mrauk-U Township logging 11. The remainder of the cases were spread across a handful of other townships in Arakan State.

“A total of 192 cases of dengue fever were reported across Arakan State’s 17 townships,” said Dr. Zaw Zaw Aung, deputy director of the state’s DPH. “To date, no deaths have been reported from dengue fever. There were only a few cases of dengue fever from January to April, but the number of cases has increased from May to June.”

Dr. Zaw Zaw Aung said children from the ages of 5 and 9 are the most common cases of dengue fever, as well as children from the ages of 2 and 4, and the elderly.

A mosquito-borne tropical disease, dengue fever can infect all people, regardless of age or gender.

U Hla Thein, a spokesman for the Arakan military council, urged people to make efforts to avoid mosquito bites, and to seek treatment at local health clinics for coughs, colds and runny noses.

“The beginning of the rainy season is the time of dengue fever,” he said. “Therefore, parents with young children need to be careful that their children do not get bitten by mosquitoes. Avoiding mosquito bites does not mean using a lot of mosquito repellent. Too much mosquito repellent can cause pneumonia in these children.”

Every year, the health department conducts dengue-related health education beginning in February, said officials from the department.

According to DPH figures, Arakan State saw a total of 421 dengue fever cases in 2020.