Cambodia on Thursday commenced its annual campaign to fight against dengue fever as the rainy season is approaching.

Approximately 700 health officials, health-related non- governmental organization representatives, teachers and students gathered here to launch the campaign.

Speaking at the event, Health Minister Mam Bunheng appealed to all parents and guardians to fill in puddles around houses, which are sources of mosquitoes.

"Unlike malaria, dengue fever cannot be cured at homes, so if you suspect that your children have dengue fever, you must send them to hospitals as soon as possible," he advised.

Dengue fever is a viral disease transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, which always bite at daytime, he said.

The disease causes an acute illness of sudden onset that usually follows symptoms such as headache, fever, exhaustion, severe muscle and joint pain, swollen glands, vomiting and rash.

Dong-il Ahn, representative of the World Health Organization- Cambodia, said in Cambodia, when the raining season starts, dengue transmission will also begin to increase and usually peak between June and August.

"This public awareness is very important to prevent dengue and to encourage everyone to take action against the disease," he said.

He advised that three preventive actions should be taken: removing stagnant water in and around homes, putting mosquito larval killer such as guppy fishes into water-jars, and wearing long-sleeved shirts and trousers to prevent mosquito bites.

Char Meng Chuor, director of the National Center for Parasitology, Entomology and Malaria Control, said during the first 15 weeks of this year, the country reported 269 dengue fever cases, down 85 percent compared with the same period last year.

The disease killed only a child during the period this year, remarkably down from 13 deaths over the same period last year, he said.

Disease outbreak usually begins at the onset of rainy season in May and lasts until October.

Last year, the country recorded some 17,533 dengue fever cases, killing 59 children.