The President of El Salvador Francisco Flores has declared a state of emergency in four of the country's 14 provinces due to a dengue outbreak that has caused four deaths and 1,042 reported cases.
Announcing the state of emercency, he said "We are declaring a state of emergency in San Salvador, La Libertad, Santa Ana and Cabanas departments."
The state of emergency places the Defence Ministry in charge of efforts to combat the spread of the epidemic, and frees up state funds to help affected populations.
Health authorities said that between January and the first week of June 2002, 1,042 Salvadorans have contracted dengue, 90 of them with the more dangerous hemorrhagic variety. Four people have died.
Borne by the aedes aegypti mosquito, dengue fever causes intense headaches, vomiting, and muscle and joint aches. It has no known cure.
In fatal cases, victims often do not recognize they are infected and fail to seek proper treatment. They quickly lose blood plasma and go into shock after the initial fever passes.
AFP