AlQa'dah 24, 1433, Oct 10, 2012, SPA - The Puerto Rican health department has declared a dengue epidemic in the country. The Associated Press reported Tuesday that Health Secretary Lorenzo Gonzalez said at least six people have died, including two children younger than 10 years old. So far, a total of 4,816 cases have been reported, including 21 cases of the potentially fatal hemorrhagic dengue. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 342 new cases were reported in one week in September, which was twice the number of cases during the same period last year. The mosquito-borne virus causes fever, severe headaches, and extreme joint and muscle pain. Dengue claimed a record 31 lives during a 2010 epidemic that resulted in more than 12,000 suspected cases.