Cambodia recorded 2,541 cases of dengue fever in the first four months of this year, a year-on-year fall of 31 percent, according to the country’s Ministry of Health.

Dr. Ngon Chantha, director of the national programme on dengue fever prevention, said that during the above-mentioned period, the disease killed 15 people, two deaths less than that of the same period last year.

Since 2007, about 40,000 Cambodians have suffered from dengue fever, which claimed the lives of 57 people.

Earlier on May 31, the ministry also said that the number of malaria cases in Cambodia in the January-April period decreased by 54 percent to 7,890 cases from 17,043 cases in the same period last year.

The disease killed three people, a sharp decrease from the 24 deaths in the same period in 2012.

The results are attributable to the country’s efforts to control these diseases as well as the support of the World Health Organisation.

The Cambodian Government has launched numerous campaigns to fight dengue fever and malaria, including popularising protective measures, providing mosquito nets and improving the quality of health workers.

It aims to eliminate the two diseases by 2015.-VNA