On December 15, 2015, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) for Dengue Outbreak reported 9 new deaths associated with dengue infection. A cumulative total of 204 deaths associated with dengue infection, including 112 in Tainan City, 90 in Kaohsiung City and 2 in Pingtung City, have been confirmed.

The 9 new deaths associated with dengue infection all resided in Kaohsiung City include 5 men and 4 women. Their ages range between 55 and 82. Most of them multiple chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and stroke, which coincided with the conditions of high-risk patients listed in the World Health Organization’s guidelines. As of now, 22 deaths, including 18 from Kaohsiung City and 4 from Tainan City, are still waiting to be reviewed.

Among the 204 deaths found to be associated with dengue infection, 106 are men and 98 are women. The median age is 75.5 years old. Each of them, on average, had two to three chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, coronary artery diseases and renal failures. The average number of days between onset and death is 6.25.

On December 14, 2015, a total of additional 128 indigenous dengue cases were confirmed in Kaohsiung City. Dengue activity in Kaohsiung City has decreased for four consecutive weeks and continues to abate. Since this summer, a cumulative total of 41,947 indigenous dengue cases, including 22,724 cases in Tainan City, 18,532 cases in Kaohsiung City, 354 cases in Pingtung City and imported and sporadic cases in other cities and counties, have been confirmed. Currently, 50 dengue patients are being treated in the intensive care unit. 97.3% of the total reported cases, which is 40,827 patients, have recovered.

On the other hand, CECC for Dengue Outbreak reminds that so far this year, a cumulative total of 337 imported dengue cases have been reported. Most of these imported cases came from countries in Southeast Asia. Among the countries in Southeast Asia, dengue activity remains rampant in Thailand, the Philippines, India, Vietnam, Singapore and Malaysia. Travelers planning to visit affected areas are urged to take precautions against mosquitoes. Although the weather has recently gotten colder, the weather in southern Taiwan r still favors the growth of mosquito. Hence, the public is once again urged to remain vigilant for dengue and continue to cooperate with the government prevention and control efforts in order to ensure effective dengue control. For more information, please visit the Taiwan CDC website at http://www.cdc.gov.tw or call the toll-free Communicable Disease Reporting and Consultation Hotline, 1922 (or 0800-001922).