16 children die of dengue fever

REMBANG, Central Java: Sixteen children died of dengue fever and 787 others were hospitalized between January and November, an official said yesterday.

Rembang regent Wachidi Riyono said the number of cases of dengue fever was higher than last year when eight people died and 675 were hospitalized.

According to the regent, most children died because they were admitted too late to hospital.

"If they had been sent to the hospital any earlier, more lives could have been saved," the regent said. (har)