On October 6, 2017, the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control announced 2 new indigenous dengue cases, which are both contacts of the 50-something index case of the previously reported cluster in New Taipei City.Case #3 is the index case’s neighbor and was bitten by a mosquito in his own backyard in late September. On October 1, Case #3 developed symptoms, including fever, headache, muscle pain and nausea. On October 4, he was diagnosed with dengue fever. Case #4 lives more than 3 km away from the index case and has not developed symptoms. Case #4 was identified during the expanded epidemiological investigation and found to visit places nearby the index case’s residence every day. Case #4 was also diagnosed on October 4.

To prevent the further spread of the disease, the local health authority has implemented various prevention measures and identified 157 contacts to monitor and follow up.　　One of them, which is Case #3 was tested positive for dengue after seeking medical attention, while Case #4 was identified when the specimens of some contacts were submitted for laboratory testing. As it is still the vector mosquito season, Taiwan CDC once again reminds the public to regularly empty and clean any standing water in order to prevent vector mosquito from breeding. If symptoms develop, please seek immediate medical attention and be sure to inform the physician of any relevant activity in order to facilitate diagnosis and treatment. Further, infected individuals are advised to take precautions against mosquito bites to prevent secondary infection.

According to the surveillance data compiled by Taiwan CDC, during October 2 and 5, 2017, 2 new indigenous dengue cases, which are related to the cluster previously reported in northern Taiwan, were confirmed. A total of 4 cases have been associated with the cluster. In addition, 5 new imported cases were confirmed. During the past one month, the majority of the imported cases acquired infection in Vietnam. As of October 5, 2017, a total of 242 imported cases, including 2 deaths, have been confirmed. In addition, since July 2017, as of October 5, a total of 8 imported clusters involving 20 cases have been confirmed in Taiwan.

Recently, the overall level of dengue activity in Southeast Asia, including Laos, Vietnam and Thailand, has remained above the epidemic threshold. Thus far, a cumulative total 125,000 cases have been confirmed in Vietnam, which is 40% more than that reported during the same period last year.  A cumulative total of 8,500 cases have been confirmed in Laos, which is higher than that reported during the same period last year. A cumulative total of 21,300 cases, including 131 deaths, have been confirmed in Myanmar, which is quadrupled that reported during the same period last year and Yangon Province has reported the most cases.

Travelers planning to visit areas affected by dengue fever are urged to take precautions against mosquito bites. If symptoms such as fever, headache, retroorbital pain, myalgia, arthralgia, and rash develop, please seek immediate medical attention and inform the doctor of recent travel history and activity to facilitate prompt diagnosis and case reporting. 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).