With dengue fever spreading in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Indonesia and Sri Lanka, the World Health Organisation (who) has issued a warning to all neighbouring countries. Around 658 people have died in Indonesia, 59 in Sri Lanka and three in Bangladesh. There are around 68,000 suspected cases of the disease. Bhutan, which has never reported the disease, alone has around 1,565 suspected cases.

Intermittent rainfall seems to be the reason behind this epidemic. "As dengue fever is extending to new areas, there is a critical role for intensifying control measures for reducing the chances of outbreaks and for better case management to save lives,' says Samlee Plianbangchang, regional director for south east Asia, who. In Bangladesh, poor awareness about dengue has unleashed panic, while in Sri Lanka, the government is under pressure to set up a special task force to coordinate the campaign against dengue.