BBC Friday, 24 August, 2001, 12:01 GMT 13:01 UK Venezuela faces dengue emergency

Children are particularly at risk from the fever

President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela has called for emergency measures to combat an epidemic of dengue fever.

The fever has affected more than 24,000 people and killed at least four.

In a nationwide TV and radio address, Mr Chavez called on all Venezuelans to help get rid of stagnant water, where the disease-carrying mosquitoes breed.

"I urge every sector of society, the news media, everyone to contribute to the battle against this disease."

The armed forces, who are already active in a social welfare programme known as Bolivar 2000, are to be used in the fight against dengue.

In his three-hour address to the nation, President Chavez also announced further mass fumigation of affected regions.

Rains

Outbreaks of the disease have occurred in 18 of Venezuela's 23 states, including the capital, Caracas.

Recent heavy rains and the fact that many houses in Venezuela have to store water for domestic consumption have created ideal breeding grounds for the disease-bearing Aedes Aegypti mosquito.

Fevers

Dengue causes fevers, severe muscle pains, headaches and rashes, and can be fatal.

More than 1,500 new cases, many of them of the severe hemorrhagic form of the fever, have been reported in Venezuela since July.

Health Minister Maria Urbaneja blamed the increase on a new strain of dengue for which Venezuelans have no immune system defences.

-- Anonymous, August 24, 2001