Thailand is experiencing it’s worst dengue epidemic in more than 20 years as health officials attempt to get the outbreak under control through a wide array of measures.

According to a Reuters report Thursday, health officials put the total case count to date at more than 136,000 with 126 fatalities.

“We are experiencing the highest number of cases in over 20 years, but the fatalities are not alarming compared to previous years, which shows our medical response is improving,” said Sophon Mekthon, deputy director-general at the Ministry of Public Health.

Although frequently considered a rural disease, it is most common in urban environments, as in Thailand’s case, the highest concentration of cases in and around the capital Bangkok and in the northern province of Chiang Mai.

To contain the outbreak that some experts say could reach 200,000 cases, Thai health officials have instituted a nationwide fumigation campaign to eradicate the mosquito breeding grounds, public awareness campaigns in rural communities, and newly set-up operation centres around the country to coordinate with provincial health offices.

Thailand saw it’s worst year of dengue fever in 1987 when some 174,000 people were infected with more than 1,000 deaths.

Dengue is a mosquito-borne, potentially fatal disease that affects between 50 and 100 million people in tropical and subtropical regions every year, causing fever and muscle and joint aches.

According to the World Health Organization, Dengue and dengue hemorrhagic fever are present in urban and suburban areas in the Americas, South-East Asia, the Eastern Mediterranean and the Western Pacific and dengue fever is present mainly in rural areas in Africa.

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