Description of the situation
13 February 1998
Disease Outbreak Reported
The number of cases of dengue haemorrhagic fever admitted to two pediatric hospitals which function as sentinel sites in Phnom Penh was much higher than normal in December 1997 and January 1998. During 1997 the monthly number of cases had increased from 10 in January to a peak at 220 in November but remained below the monthly epidemic thresholds. The number of cases fell to 140 in December but then increased again to 227 in January 1998 which is almost five times above the epidemic threshold for that month. Three of the 227 cases were fatal. Experts from the WHO Office for the Western Pacific Region are currently in the country to assess the situation and discuss control strategies with the national health authorities.