The Pan-American Health Organisation says Latin America is struggling with a severe outbreak of dengue fever which can be fatal.

This year, 146,000 cases have already been reported, and 79 people have died. This time last year, only 79,000 patients had been confirmed as having the illness, which is spread by mosquitoes.

The PAHO says the countries hardest hit are Brazil, Columbia and Venezuela. At the moment, there is no medicine to treat dengue fever, although experts hope one will be available in about five years.

Global warming is thought to be responsible for spreading the disease to countries which were formerly unaffected. In some Central American and Caribbean countries, dengue fever has reached epidemic proportions.