During July 31 and August 6, 2012, a total of 11 indigenous dengue cases and 11 imported dengue cases were reported. The 11 indigenous cases respectively are a 13-year-old male, a 35-year-old male, an 18-year-old female, a 57-year-old female, a 38-year-old male, a 50-year-old male, a 55-year-old male and a 46-year-old female who reside in Tainan City, and a 64-year-old female, a 76-year-old female, and a 79-year-old female who reside in Kaohsiung City, including two family clusters that occurred in Tainan City. Since May 2012, a cumulative total of 59 indigenous dengue cases have been confirmed, including 40 cases that occurred in Tainan City and 19 cases that occurred in Kaohsiung City.

According to local studies and research conducted by the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC), there is no significant correlation between the amount of rainfall and the number of dengue cases that occurred. Nevertheless, there is statistical correlation between the amount of accumulated rainfall and biweekly vector density. In addition, some studies have pointed out that a significant number of dengue cases tend to occur 6 to 7 weeks after heavy rain. In light of the heavy rain caused by Typhoon Saola last week, continuous occurrence of indigenous dengue cases in Southern Taiwan and imported dengue cases from foreign countries, Taiwan CDC urges the public clean up and remove water storage containers around their home both indoor and outdoor to prevent dengue transmission.

Taiwan CDC reminds the public to voluntarily remove standing water 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. For any questions or further information on dengue fever, please call the toll-free Communicable Disease Case Reporting and Consultation Hotline 1922, or 0800-024582 if calling from a cell phone, or visit the Taiwan CDC’s website: http://www.cdc.gov.tw.