Dengue fever has already killed 12 patients in Thailand this year.

"When compared with the same period last year, the number of dengue patients has increased by 80 per cent," Public Health Minister Chaiya Sasomsap said yesterday.

Chaiya instructed all public health offices to eradicate breeding grounds of mosquitoes, which carry the disease.

Wage rise

A verbal promise has been given for a Bt9 increase in the minimum daily wage demanded by labourers, a workers' leader said yesterday.

Udomsak Bupphanimit, who organises the May Day event, said his men met with labour leader Uraiwan Thienthong yesterday and that she had told him she would ask the Tripartrite Wage Committee to consider the labourers' demand for the increase today.

Cash subsidy

Elderly people living in Bangkok with no income are now entitled to a Bt500 monthly subsidy from the city administration, deputy Bangkok governor Buddhipongse Punakanta said.

The money has been paid out to 19,726 people so far this year. Buddhipongse asked those who qualify to register with district offices. The sites for registration are Kelawes Building 2 at Thai-Japanese Youth Centre, Min Buri School, and Chalerm Phra Kiat sports centre in Thung Khru district.