Soldiers helping to fight denque in French islands

Authorities in Martinique and Guadeloupe have deployed soldiers to help curb the spread of dengue fever.



Official figures show that both countries have each recorded over 7,000 new cases of the mosquito-borne illness during the first two weeks of this month alone.



Overall, more than 50,000 cases have been recorded since the start of the epidemic this year.



The military will be involved in control operations and destroying breeding sites, and will begin in the south of Martinique, where the epidemic started.

Schools will also be targeted before the start of the academic year.



Health officials say that since 2005 there has been an unusual upsurge of the disease in those countries.