On June 4, 2013, the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) announced 3 new indigenous cases of dengue fever and 2 imported cases of dengue fever were confirmed during May 28 and June 3, 2013. As of June 3, 2013, a cumulative total of 40 indigenous dengue cases and 68 imported dengue cases have been confirmed this year. It should be noted that geographic clusters of dengue cases have occurred in Xinyuan Township and Chunri Township, Pingtung County. Taiwan CDC urges the public to take precautions against mosquitoes and clean up vector-breeding sites. Public is also urged to seek immediate medical attention when suspected symptoms develop. On the other hand, physicians are advised to be vigilant for and notify any suspected cases to the health authority immediately to prevent further spread of the disease.

The 3 newly confirmed indigenous cases all reside in Pingtung County: 2 reside in Xinyuan Township and 1 resides in Chrunri Township. Thus far this year, a total of 40 indigenous cases have been confirmed, including 24 cases in Pingtung County (22 cases in Chunri Township and 1 case in Xinyuan Township), 10 cases in Tainan City, and 6 cases in Kaohsiung City. According to the results of laboratory testing conducted by a laboratory of Taiwan CDC, the cases reported in Chunri Twonship are infected with dengue virus type 1, while the case reported in Xinyuan Township is infected with dengue virus type 3, which indicate different sources of infection. In addition to hot weather, Taiwan has been recently affected by heavy rains and floods. As a result, the mosquito density in the community has likely increased. If, however, dengue viruses are introduced to the community at this time, the risk of the spread of dengue fever and dengue hemorrhagic fever is greatly increased. Taiwan CDC urges the public to clean up vector-breeding sites as water tends to accumulate after the rain and vector mosquitoes can breed in any accumulation of water, and seek immediate medical attention when suspected symptoms develop and inform the physician of recent travel and activity history to facilitate diagnosis and implementation of subsequent measures that prevent further spread of dengue virus.

Taiwan CDC stresses that everyone needs to participate in dengue control efforts in order to successfully contain the epidemic and urges the public to stay vigilant against dengue fever and take necessary measures such as draining water containers and cleaning up vector breeding sites around their residences as well as preventing mosquito bites to effectively prevent the spread of dengue fever and dengue hemorrhagic fever and protect their health and the health of their family. According to Article 70 of the Communicabe 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.

 For more information on dengue fever, please call the toll-free Communicable Disease Reporting and Care Hotline, 1922, or 0800-001922 if calling from a cell phone, or visit the Taiwan CDC’s website at http://www.cdc.gov.tw.