PHILIPSBURG--Government's Collective Preventive Services (CPS) on Friday asked local doctors to be on guard for possible cases of dengue fever on Dutch St. Maarten.

Nearly half a dozen other islands in the region, including most recently Curaçao, have this week warned their citizens of the growing epidemic of the fever, which is spread by mosquito bites.

CPS, a department of Sector Public Health, Social Development and Labour VSA, said that residents should drain canisters with stagnant water and clear their yards of debris to prevent mosquito breeding.

"It is up to all residents and business owners to keep vigilant and to take immediate action in and around their homes/businesses," CPS said via a Government Information Services (GIS) press statement, saying they were "closely monitoring the local situation."

Dengue is nearing epidemic status in the Caribbean, GIS said, citing media reports.

The Dominican Republic reported recently at least 27 deaths in more than 7,000 cases. Trinidad has also been fighting fevers. Puerto Rico could "be facing the worst dengue outbreak in more than a decade," with five deaths and more than 6,300 cases since mid-July. South American countries Honduras and Belize have also reported outbreaks.

GIS said residents who have recently travelled to any of the countries with dengue outbreaks or those who plan to visit should see their doctor for a check-up. Dengue's symptoms include high fever, severe headache, joint pains and other aches, nausea, pain and rash.

Dengue fever is spread to people by infected mosquitoes, not by other people. The virus takes three to 14 days at most to cause symptoms. More often, the virus has a four- to seven-day incubation period.