Malaysia warned Friday of a looming dengue epidemic after a dramatic spike in cases in the last three weeks, and warned the situation could become "uncontrollable" in the future.

Health Minister Dr Chua Soi Lek said the number of reported dengue cases had doubled to 800 per week from normal levels of 400 per week, mostly in the densely populated capital and neigbouring Selangor state.

"This is directly in relation to the weather, where the sudden change between heavy rains and hot sun encourages the breeding of Aedes mosquitoes," Chua said, according to the offical Bernama news agency.

Chua said the rise of dengue cases in Malaysia was alarming, with a surge of 16 percent every year since 2003.

Dengue eradication campaign

"With this trend, if we did not take effective and thorough measures, we will be faced by at least 48,000 dengue cases a year by 2010," he said.

"When this happens, dengue cases will spread until it becomes an uncontrollable epidemic."

The minister said that efforts to control and eradicate the threatened outbreak are being carried out in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor.

Malaysia is mounting a dengue eradication campaign ahead of Visit Malaysia Year in 2007, with free larvicide will be distributed to schools and homes in a bid to curb outbreaks that could deter tourists.