In view of the recent increase in the number of dengue fever cases in some southeast Asian countries and regions, south China's Guangdong Province has taken measures to guard against the import of the disease transmitted by aedes mosquitoes.

The provincial administration for entry-exit inspection and quarantine issued an alert Wednesday and asked all the ports of entry to strengthen examination of people and their packages, goods, containers and vehicles from the dengue-affected areas.

According to the notice, those who have symptoms, like high fever, muscle pain and headache, should register at the administration when entering the province and if mosquitoes are found, the ports should take measures to kill them and collect samples for examination.

In addition, the administration also required the ports to eliminate mosquito breeding grounds and urged citizens and tourists to improve their awareness of killing mosquitoes and self-prevention.

The World Health Organization's regional office for Southeast Asia released a dengue fever alert on August 1, saying the disease has broken out in Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Indonesia and suggested that other countries and regions in the area should take immediate measures against the spread of the disease.

(Xinhua News Agency August 5, 2004)