HANOI, July 2 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam's Ministry of Health confirmed 26 deaths out of the country's 27,000 cases of dengue fever in the first half of this year, local newspaper the New Hanoi reported Thursday.

    The number of infected cases represents a 32 percent increase year-on-year, said the ministry.

    The disease mostly occurs in the country's southern provinces such as Ho Chi Minh City, Kien Giang, Soc Trang, Ben Tre and Dong Nai.

    The ministry has dispatched working groups to 15 provinces and municipality to inspect the prevention and control work of dengue fever.