| Subject: LUSA: Gov't to use security forces
in fight against dengue fever
East Timor: Gov't to use security forces in fight against dengue fever Dili, March 30 (Lusa) - Police and troops are being drafted in to assist authorities in East Timor in a national program to combat a two-month dengue fever epidemic, which has claimed 33 lives, Dili's health minister said Wednesday. Rui Araújo said the involvement of Timor's security forces in the fight against dengue was one of the measures made available to the National Commission for the Combat of Dengue, created earlier the same day by the Dili cabinet. The new body consists of representatives of various government departments, but its activities will be carried out in partnership with NGOs and church organizations, said Araújo. Improving Timor's poor sanitation, a rife breeding ground for mosquitoes, will be a lynchpin of the fight against Dengue, said the minister, noting that this strategy will have a positive impact in reducing other infectious diseases such as malaria. Dengue broke out in Timor on Jan. 5 and now affects eight of the country's 13 districts. All but three of the 33 victims killed by the disease have been under the age of 15. EL/CJB. Lusa --- 29-03-2005 20:52:00. Fonte LUSA. Notícia SIR-6869693 Temas: East Timor: Gov't approves anti-dengue plan Wednesday Dili, March 29 (Lusa) - The government of East Timor is implementing a national program to combat a two-month epidemic of dengue fever, which has now claimed 33 lives of the 678 cases registered, a Dili official said Tuesday. Health Minister Rui Araújo said the anti-dengue fever plan, to be approved by the government Wednesday, will mainly target the carrier of the infectious disease, the mosquito, and also involve measures to improve refuse collection. Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri called a special cabinet meeting this week to debate Timor's dengue fever outbreak, resulting in the creation of a special task force comprising various Dili ministries. Dengue fever broke out in Timor on Jan. 5 and has now spread to eight of the new nation's 13 districts. All but three of the 33 victims killed by the disease have been under the age of 15. EL/CJB. Lusa
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