The Salvadorean Red Cross youth is at the helm of a project to reduce the spread of dengue fever by providing community education about prevention and infection and monitoring community implementation of preventive measures.

Every year dengue fever affects hundreds of people in El Salvador during the rainy season that lasts from May to October. In 2002, the number of dengue cases has more than doubled those of 2001, setting off a state of emergency in four of the country's departments.

"If only one house in a community does not follow the prevention measures, the disease can spread to the whole community," says Ramon Perez, a Salvadoran Red Cross youth volunteer working on the plan of action against the spread of the disease.

The project is being carried out by the youth division who are visiting 50 schools in San Salvador. Volunteers will also target 200 teachers and 1,200 parents in three other municipalities.

"Our children already know the basics about dengue transmission and in each house they make sure they follow their duties in order to prevent the disease from spreading," says Milagro de la Paz Torres, 3rd grade teacher at Agustin Linares school. "But we need to strengthen these methods. Because of this year's dengue situation we cannot sit and wait around too long, therefore the Red Cross is coming to assist us at exactly the right time."

Read more details about this activities in the special news story.