Guangdong Province in south China reported 121 dengue fever cases this year as of Sunday, up 73 percent from the same period a year ago, health authorities said Tuesday.

Of those cases, 80 caught the virus outside Guangdong, and there were no deaths, said a statement issued by the Guangdong Provincial Health and Family Planning Commission.

The provincial capital of Guangzhou saw 51 cases, the highest among 13 cities with reported cases, followed by Shenzhen and Foshan cities with 17 and 16 cases.

Dengue is a mosquito-borne, potentially fatal disease that mainly affects people in tropical and subtropical regions, causing fever, nausea, as well as muscle and joint aches.

Local disease control authorities warned in late July that Guangdong had entered epidemic season for dengue and had a growing risk of outbreaks.

Source : XINHUA