On December 25, 2012, the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) announced four new cases of dengue hemorrhagic fever that either reside in or frequently visit Kaohsiung City were confirmed last week (December 18 and 24). Thus far, a cumulative total of 33 dengue hemorrhagic fever cases, including 7 deaths, have been confirmed this year. In addition, 21 new indigenous dengue fever cases were confirmed last week. Of the new dengue fever cases, 11 cases reside in Tainan City, 8 cases reside in Kaohsiung City, and 1 case resides in New Taipei City and Yunlin County. Since the beginning of this summer, a cumulative total of 1,227 dengue cases have been confirmed, including 731 cases that reside in Tainan City, 477 cases that reside in Kaohsiung City, 7 cases that reside in Taoyuan County, 5 cases that reside in New Taipei City, and one case that resides in Taipei City, Miaoli County, Yunlin County, Chiayi County, Taitung County and Penghu County.

Three of the four new dengue hemorrhagic fever cases reside in Lingya District, Kaohsiung City. Although the other case works in Mailiao Village, Yunlin County, the case returns to the residence in Lingya District, Kaohsiung City during the holidays. As of now, two cases are still hospitalized for treatment while the other two cases have recovered and been discharged. Althoughthe weather has turned cold, dengue cases have continued to occur in southern Taiwan. Hence, Taiwan CDC urges physicians to stay vigilant for suspected cases of dengue fever, besides paying particular attention to diagnosing cases of influenza and viral gastroenteritis, and report suspected cases to the health authority as soon as possible to facilitate implementation of subsequent measures that prevent further spread of the disease. 

3 of the 11 new cases in Tainan City have been respectively reported in West Central District and North District, 3 of the 8 new dengue cases in Kaohsiung City have been reported in Lingya District, one new case in New Taipei City has been reported in Shenkeng District, and one new case in Yunlin County has been reported in Mailiao Village. According to the epidemiological investigation, the sources of infection are all located in southern Taiwan. Although the overall dengue activity last week has slowed, the dengue activity in Tainan City has remained unchanged after reaching a plateau and the new cases reported in Kaohsiung City are mostly from Lingya District. Hence, Taiwan CDC urges the residents in Lingya District, Kaohsiung City to continue to clean up and remove vector-breeding sites in order to prevent the epidemic from dragging into winter. 

Taiwan CDC advises people who have chronic diseases and reside in areas affected by dengue outbreaks to take prevention measures against mosquito bites to prevent dengue transmission and dengue infection from worsening existing chronic illnesses. 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 to facilitate prompt diagnosis and case reporting. For any questions or further information on dengue fever or dengue hemorrhagic fever, please call the toll-free Communicable Disease Reporting and Care Hotline, 1922, or 0800-024582 if calling from a cell phone, or visit the Taiwan CDC’s website at http://www.cdc.gov.tw.