La Paz, Jan 20 (IANS): Health authorities in the eastern Bolivian region of Santa Cruz declared a "red alert" for dengue fever due to an alarming rise in cases and four deaths from the disease this year.

Carlos Hurtado, head of epidemiology of the department's health services, told the media that Bolivia would strengthen disease surveillance, guarantee treatment for patients and destroy mosquito breeding sites, reports Xinhua news agency.

Hurtado said that health centres are not yet saturated, despite the high number of patients hospitalised with dengue.

According to the regional epidemiological report, 112 patients are hospitalised, including 78 in the city of Santa Cruz, the region's capital.

So far this year, "four deaths have been reported in the region with clinical characteristics of the disease, so the health scientific committee has been reactivated to take action", he said.

Nationwide, 508 dengue cases have been reported in six departments, including 319 in Santa Cruz, said Minister of Health and Sports Jeyson Auza.

Dengue is a viral infection transmitted to humans through the bite of infected mosquitoes, and severe dengue is a leading cause of serious illness and death in some Asian and Latin American countries, according to the World Health Organization.