On April 20, 2010, Taiwan CDC announced the third confirmed case of indigenous dengue fever during this epidemic season. The patient who lives in Kaohsiung City visited the hospital several times since he developed fever, headache, bone and muscle pain on April 5. As his existing symptoms persisted, he developed other symptoms such as rash, itching, and cornea bleeding developed on April 19. On the same day, the patient visited the hospital again. On April 20, the hospital notified Taiwan CDC about the case and Taiwan CDC then confirmed indigenous dengue fever in the case. The patient lives 1.8 km away from the residence of the first confirmed case. A total of 5 contacts lives with the patient and specimens have been collected from 2 of the contacts.

As of April 20, 2010, 88 confirmed cases of dengue fever, including 41 indigenous cases and 47 imported cases, have been reported this year. Among them, 38 cases were from the continuing outbreak of the last epidemic season (2009), while the other 3 cases were the new cases that occurred during this epidemic season (2010). All of them live in Kaohsiung City. Only 1 case of indigenous dengue fever was confirmed during the same period last year.

Since 3 cases of indigenous dengue fever have been confirmed from March to April this year (2010), Taiwan CDC urges the public to mobilize and voluntarily clean up the vectors around their residences to effectively prevent the transmission of dengue fever. If you experience symptoms similar to those of dengue fever such as fever, headache, nausea, fatigue, eye pain, muscle or joint pain, please visit the physicians as soon as possible, and inform them of your recent activities. If you are aware that you may be infected with dengue fever, please report to a local health authority and get a blood test. When you are confirmed as dengue fever, you will receive a reporting award of NT$ 2,500. On the other hand, all doctors should remain vigilant for suspected cases of dengue fever.

For any questions or further information on infectious diseases, please call the toll-free Communicable Disease Reporting and Consultation Hotline 1922, or visit the Taiwan CDC’s website at https://www.cdc.gov.tw