BANGKOK, July 20 (Xinhua) -- Thai Ministry of Public Health on Saturday said it will find measures to contain dengue fever quickly as the number of dengue infection cases have reached 49,174 since the start of 2019.

Health minister Anutin Charnvirakul, while visiting patients diagnosed with dengue fever at hospitals in Loei province on Saturday, said he has instructed health state agencies to place dengue surveillance system nationwide, and to report the number of new infections should an outbreak occur.

"Local authorities and volunteers across the country will spray chemicals to kill mosquitoes," said Anutin, adding "especially with the present raining season, residents will be advised to destroy mosquito-breeding grounds in and around their houses."

The Department of Disease Control released its latest report indicating a further 4,503 dengue fever cases in the first half of July, bringing this year's cumulative cases to 49,174 cases with 64 deaths.