During September 4 and 10, 2012, a total of 85 indigenous dengue cases, including 4 dengue hemorrhagic fever cases and 1 death, and 7 imported dengue cases were reported. Of the cases, 66 cases reside in Tainan City and 19 cases reside in Kaohsiung City. The new cases have mostly been reported in Annan District (43 cases) in Tainan City, including a confirmed case in a one-year-old child, and Lingya District (19 cases) in Kaohsiung City. On the other hand, a cumulative total of 4 dengue hemorrhagic fever cases, including one death, have been reported last week. Since this summer, a total of 233 dengue fever cases have been confirmed, including 166 cases reported in Tainan City, 65 cases reported in Kaohsiung City, and one case respectively reported in Chiayi County and Miaoli County. In addition, a total of 8 dengue hemorrhagic fever cases, including 2 deaths, have been confirmed. Of the 8 cases, 7 were reported in Kaohsiung City and 1 was reported in Tainan City.

The 4 new dengue hemorrhagic cases reported last week all have a history of chronic disease such as high blood pressure, heart disease, cancer and duodenal ulcer. Thus far, three dengue hemorrhagic fever cases have been reported in Kaohsiung City and one case has been reported in Tainan City. The death associated with dengue hemorrhagic fever case reported last week was a 55-year-old female who resided in Tainan City with a medical history of cancer. On September 4, she developedgastroenteritis symptoms and sought medical attention at a hospital. On September 6, when she developed fever and bruises on the limbs and around the eyes, she sought further medical attention at the emergency department at another hospital. On September 7, she was reported to the health authority as a suspected dengue fever case. On September 9, she unfortunately passed away. On September 10, the case was reported to the health authority as a suspected dengue hemorrhagic fever case. On September 11, the infection was confirmed by Taiwan CDC.

Taiwan CDC urges the public to voluntarily remove standing water, clean up vector breeding sites and reduce the number of water-storage containers in and around residences at least once a week to prevent the spread of dengue fever. According to Article 70 of the Communicable Disease Control Act, anyone who refuses, evades or obstructs disease control measures such as inspection decided by competent authorities or fails to notify the competent authorities of the presence of vector breeding sites that is later identified by competent authorities or clean up vector breeding sites as requested by competent authorities may be fined NT$ 3,000 up to NT$ 15,000. Further, Taiwan CDC emphasizes if symptoms such as fever, headache, fatigue, retroorbital pain, myalgia, and arthragia develop, please seek immediate medical attention and inform the doctor of any recent travel history and activity. For any questions or further information on dengue fever or dengue hemorrhagic fever, please call the toll-free Communicable Disease Reporting and Consultation Hotline, 1922, or  0800-024582 if calling from a cell phone, or visit the Taiwan CDC’s website at http://www.cdc.gov.tw.