Dengue fever is spreading rapidly in Central and South America, and in Asia, too. An event was held in Bangkok on Friday urging people to take steps against the mosquito-borne disease.

The exhibition was organized by the Thai health ministry and companies working on measures against mosquitoes. Dengue fever causes high fever, bad headaches and muscle and joint pain. Severe cases can be fatal.

Japanese makers showcased a bug spray that doesn't use chemical insecticide and diapers infused with extract of lemongrass, which mosquitoes hate.

Niti Haetanurak, deputy director of Thailand's Department of Disease Control, urged people to make efforts to avoid infection, saying that dengue fever during the rainy season is expected to spread further in the next four months.

The World Health Organization says Thailand has reported more dengue cases this year than last. Nearly 160,000 people were infected in 2023, and that figure was up threefold from the previous year.
It says the surge has likely been triggered by various factors, including shifts in the circulating serotype and climate change.