Vietnam reported more than 20,000 cases of dengue fever with 20 deaths in the first six months of this year, according to the Vietnamese newspaper People's Army here Monday.

The disease mostly occur in the country's southern regions. Ho Chi Minh City leads the list with 3,754 cases and two deaths. Soc Trang Province reported 1,717 cases with one death, the newspaper cited figures from the Health Ministry.

The ministry has dispatched working group to the southern provinces and municipality to inspect the prevention and control work of dengue fever. 　

(Xinhua News Agency July 1, 2008)