Cambodia Sees 7,000 Dengue Cases, 15 Child Deaths in 2025
Phnom Penh: Cambodia recorded approximately 7,000 dengue fever cases in the first half of 2025, similar to the number of infections reported during the same period in 2024, according to a senior health official.
Huy Rekol, director of the National Centre for Parasitology, Entomology and Malaria Control, said the number of fatalities linked to the mosquito-borne disease dropped this year. "The death toll from the disease dropped to 15 during the January-June period this year from 23 in the same period last year," Rekol told Xinhua news agency on Thursday.
He added that all the patients who died were children. “The deaths occurred because the parents or legal guardians had sent their sick children to the hospital late,” Rekol said.
He urged parents and guardians to act quickly if dengue symptoms appear. “Parents or legal guardians should take their sick children to health centres or state hospitals within 48 hours if they suspect their children are infected with the dengue virus,” he advised.
Rekol also appealed to households to take preventive measures at home. “Fill in puddles around their houses,” he said, “as they are sources of mosquitoes.”
Dengue fever is a viral illness transmitted by the bite of an Aedes mosquito, which is active during the day. Common symptoms include high fever (up to 40°C), headache, severe muscle and joint pain, swollen glands, vomiting, rash, and fatigue. In some cases, the disease can become severe and even fatal.
Cambodia typically experiences a peak in dengue cases during the rainy season from May to October. The Ministry of Health has warned that the number of cases has been rising since late April and may continue to increase due to heavier rainfall.
The World Health Organization (WHO) notes that most people infected with dengue do not develop symptoms. However, in cases where symptoms appear, they usually resolve within 1-2 weeks. There is no specific treatment for dengue, but pain relief medication can help manage symptoms. The best prevention remains avoiding mosquito bites, especially during daytime hours.
(With inputs from IANS)
Jyoti Kumari joined Medical Dialogues in 2025 as a Journalism Intern. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Mass Communication from the Delhi School of Journalism, University of Delhi. She is passionate about news reporting, content creation, social media, and emerging media trends.