On December 22, 2015, the Center Epidemic Command Center (CECC) for Dengue Outbreak announced 5 new deaths associated with dengue infection. Thus far, a cumulative total of 209 deaths, including 112 deaths in Tainan City, 95 deaths in Kaohsiung City, and 2 deaths in Pingtung City, were found to be linked with dengue infection.

The 5 new deaths associated with dengue infection include 3 men and 2 women. All of them resided in Kaohsiung City. Their ages ranged between 68 and 79. Most of them had multiple chronic conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure, which coincided with the conditions of high-risk patients listed in the World Health Organization’s guidelines. As of now, 20 deaths, including 16 from Kaohsiung City, 3 from Tainan City, and 1 from Pingtung County, are still waiting to be reviewed.

Among the 209 deaths found to be associated with dengue infection, 106 are men and 98 are women. The median age is 75 years old. Each of them, on average, had three chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, coronary artery diseases and renal failures. The average number of days between onset and death is 6.2.

On December 21, 2015, a total of additional 77 indigenous dengue cases were confirmed in Kaohsiung City. Although dengue activity in Kaohsiung City has begun to reverse and decreased for four consecutive weeks, the public is still urged to remain vigilant for the disease to prevent the outbreak from continuing into winter.

Since this summer, a cumulative total of 42,572 indigenous dengue cases, including 22,741 cases in Tainan City, 18,933 cases in Kaohsiung City, 373 cases in Pingtung City and imported and sporadic cases in other cities and counties, have been confirmed. Currently, 44 dengue patients are being treated in the intensive care unit. 98.1% of the total reported cases have recovered.

So far this year, as of December 21, a cumulative total of 344 imported dengue cases have been reported. Most of these imported cases came from countries in Southeast Asia. Among the countries in Southeast Asia, dengue activity remains rampant in Singapore and Vietnam. Even though dengue activity remains high in other countries in the region, the incidence trends have begun to gradually decrease in these other countries. Travelers planning to visit affected areas are still urged to take precautions against mosquitoes. CECC for Dengue Outbreak reminds the public to continue to empty and clean vector breeding sites in and around the residence in order to effectively prevent dengue transmission. 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).