SANTO DOMINGO – Public Health Minister Bautista Rojas Gomez said Monday that 24 people have died of dengue fever to date this year in the Dominican Republic and some 6,000 have been infected with the illness in its non-lethal form.

Nonetheless, the official said that the number of cases of the illness reported in hospitals and clinics has declined over the past few days.

This reflects, Rojas said, the fact that people have become aware of the danger and are seeking medical help and are taking the necessary precautions to keep from being infected by this tropical disease.

The minister also spoke of efforts being made by local authorities to diminish the incidence of dengue, leptospirosis and malaria.

Dengue is a severe viral disease transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito and is characterized by high fevers, intense headaches, muscular pain, gastrointestinal malfunction and skin rashes. EFE