MEXICO CITY, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- The Mexican government on Tuesday urged its citizens to combat dengue fever, a mosquito-borne tropical virus that causes muscle pain, internal bleeding and death.

    Mexican Health Minister Jose Angel Cordoba Villalobos urged the public to avoid standing water in abandoned cars and garbage, which attracts mosquitoes, and to keep houses clean.

    He also asked Mexicans to report to the health authorities immediately if they show any symptoms of dengue.

    The disease is threatening the lives of thousands of Mexicans. Some 8,895 cases of dengue have been confirmed by Sunday, compared to a total of 10,400 cases registered last year, Cordoba Villalobos told local radio.

    Many state authorities have issued virus alerts to local residents, including Colima, Guanajuato, Guerrero, Hidalgo, Puebla, San Luis Potosi and the state of Mexico.

    Sanitary enclosures were set up in Gorda mountain range in Queretaro state. Residents of several other states have launched yard and roof cleaning campaigns to combat the disease.