E. Timor steps up fight against dengue

DILI, East Timor: The provincial administration is intensifying efforts to combat the outbreak of dengue fever in 11 of the province's districts, provincial health office spokesman Triputro Nugroho said here yesterday.

Dengue fever has been recorded in 11 out of the province's 13 districts since December last year, he was quoted by Antara as saying.

A total of 19 people have died and 256 have been hospitalized since the outbreak struck earlier this year.

Health officials have said that 12 out of 27 Indonesia's provinces have been affected and that around 400 people have died of the disease caused by certain mosquito bites.