South China's Guangdong Province had 23 dengue fever patients at the end of Thursday. But no deaths have been reported.

According to an official from the Guangdong Provincial Bureau of Public Health, all of the cases were reported in Guangzhou, capital of the province.

Dengue fever is mainly passed to humans by mosquitoes. Symptoms of the flu-like disease include headaches, rashes, lethargy and joint and bone pain.

The infectious tropical disease usually has an incubation period of between three and five days.

Guangdong's first dengue fever patient for the year was detected in Guangzhou on May 26. So far, all the patients are Guangzhou residents.

"Dengue fever is now threatening Guangdong Province," the official said.

In Dengfengjie area in Guangzhou's Tianhe District, a total of 15 people have contracted dengue fever since late May.

The official, who refused to be named, said on Friday that there has been a mini-outbreak of dengue fever in the Dengfengjie area.

Guangzhou's Dongshan District has also detected five dengue fever patients, while Baiyun and Yuexiu districts have diagnosed three cases between them.

The official said his bureau has decided to immediately establish a special task force to help cope with the growing number of patients.

It will consist of senior doctors, experts and health officials.

Meanwhile, the official urged Guangdong residents to improve their guard against mosquitoes.

A city-wide campaign to wipe out mosquitoes will be launched next week.

Last year alone, Guangzhou detected 82 dengue fever patients. Most of them were children. No deaths were reported.

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