Taipei, Sep 4 (IANS): Taiwan is battling its worst summer outbreak of dengue in over a decade as cases have exceeded 4,000 in the course of four months, the media reported on Friday.

According to the island's disease control centre, the total number of dengue fever cases reached 4,343, with 10 deaths, since the start of this summer. It is considered the worst outbreak on the island since the authority began systematic tracking of the disease in 2003, Xinhua news agency reported.

Tainan city reported 3,825 dengue cases, making it the hardest hit, and neighbouring Kaohsiung city had 445 cases, latest official figures show.

Tainan's executive authority set aside 30 million Taiwanese dollars (about $920,000) to help the city with dengue fever prevention and control efforts.

A researching team at Taiwan Ocean University has succeeded in cultivating small insectivorous rice fish and will release them to get rid of mosquito larvae in drains and ponds.

Dengue fever is transmitted by mosquitoes. It causes headache, fever, exhaustion, severe muscle and joint pain, swollen glands, vomiting and rash.