According to the statistics compiled by the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) for Dengue Outbreak, a total of additional 363 indigenous dengue cases were confirmed in Taiwan on November 23, 2015, including 316 cases in Kaohsiung City and 34 cases in Tainan City. The number of new cases reported in Kaohsiung City is 59 cases less than that reported during the same day last week, while the number of new cases reported in Tainan City is 1 case more than that reported during the same day last week. In addition, 16 new deaths associated with dengue infection were reported this week.

The number of new cases reported in Kaohsiung City last week is up by 20% from that reported during the week before last week, indicating dengue activity remains rampant in the city. The majority of the reported cases occurred in Sanmin District, Fongshan District, Cianjhen District and Lingya District. The Kaohsiung City Government has continued to mobilize people from 14 agencies under the government and mobile squads to partake in dengue prevention and control efforts. Simultaneously, health education for the prevention and control of dengue fever for village and neighborhood chiefs had been conducted. Since this summer, a cumulative total of 37,224 indigenous dengue cases, including 22,563 cases in Tainan City, 13,952 cases in Kaohsiung City, 251 cases in Pingtung City and imported and sporadic cases in other cities and counties, have been confirmed.

16 new deaths associated with dengue infection, including 10 women and 6 men, were confirmed this week. All resided in Kaohsiung City. Their ages ranged between 35 and 88. Besides the 35-year-old female who had pituitary gland tumor and thyroid tumor, most of them had multiple chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, renal failure and strokes, which coincided with the conditions of high-risk patients listed in the World Health Organization’s guidelines. Thus far, a cumulative total of 174 deaths, including 112 deaths in Tainan City, 60 deaths in Kaohsiung City, and 2 deaths in Pingtung City, were found to be linked with dengue infection. The median age is 76 years old. 14 deaths, including 13 from Kaohsiung City and 1 from Tainan City, are still waiting to be reviewed. Currently, 51 dengue patients are being treated in the intensive care unit. 93.3 % of the total reported cases, which is 34,746 patients, have recovered.

On the other hand, so far this year, a cumulative total of 304 imported dengue cases have been reported, which is the highest in years. Most of these imported cases came from countries in southeast Asia. Among the countries in southeast Asia, dengue activity remains rampant in Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam. Travelers planning to visit affected areas are urged to take precautions against mosquitoes.

The Kaohsiung City Government has set up outpatient services that use rapid tests to diagnose dengue fever in 20 hospitals in Kaohsiung City, including Kaohsiung Medical University Chung-Ho Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung Municipal Hsiao-Kang Hospital and E-Da Hospital, and a special care clinic for dengue patients has been set up in 6 hospitals in Kaohsiung City, including Kaohsiung Medical University Chung-Ho Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung Municipal Cijin Hospital, Yuan’s General Hospital, Kaohsiung Municipal Min-sheng Hospital, Naijung Hospital, and Linyuan Hospital. If symptoms such as high fever (≧38℃), headache, retroorbital pain, myalgia, arthralgia, and rash develop, please seek immediate medical attention and inform the doctor of any relevant medical history, recent travel history and activity to facilitate prompt diagnosis and case reporting. When dengue fever is diagnosed, please follow the doctor’s instructions in completing the treatment, drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration, and rest at home as much as possible to prevent the further spread of the virus through mosquitoes. 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).