Steps are being taken this week to increase awareness of the potentially fatal mosquito-borne dengue fever reaching the Island after reports that two people have died from the infection this month in Martinique.

News of the deaths and of an epidemic that has infected more than 6,000 people in Martinique, comes only days after a renewed call for Bermuda residents to take responsibility for ridding their properties of standing water where the Aedea aegypti mosquito can breed.

Environmental Health Officer David Kendell will be speaking with Immigration officials this week to raise awareness of people coming onto the Island from places affected by the fever and who appear to be showing symptoms.

Although the fever has not reached Bermuda, the Island has played host to the potential dengue-carrying mosquito since 1998.

The mosquito breeds in stagnant water, such as in dishes beneath plant pots and inside discarded tyres where water collects.

That is why residents have been asked to make a once-a-week check around their properties to get rid of any places where stagnant water collects. This summer Mr. Kendell and his team of inspectors have found that in some neighbourhoods almost every second property has been inadvertently playing host to breeding mosquitoes.

Following the reports from Martinique, Mr. Kendell will be meeting with Immigration authorities. ?This is an outbreak in our region. We are meeting with Immigration to make them aware at ports of entry of any people coming from countries that have dengue fever who may be showing the symptoms of the fever,? said Mr. Kendell.

On average, the death rate from those who contract dengue fever is five percent, although this can be reduced to less than one percent with proper treatment. The disease symptoms include high fever, chills, headaches, aching joints and bright red rashes and is common in tropical areas and endemic in Southeast Asia and many Caribbean countries.