On December 11, 2012, the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) announced two new cases of dengue hemorrhagic fever that reside in Kaohsiung City were confirmed last week (December 4 and 10). Thus far, a cumulative total of 29 dengue hemorrhagic fever cases, including 7 deaths, have been confirmed this year. In addition, 29 new indigenous dengue fever cases were confirmed last week. Of the new dengue fever cases, 19 cases reside in Kaohsiung City, 9 cases reside in Tainan City, and 1 case resides in New Taipei City. Since the beginning of this summer, a cumulative total of 1,176 dengue cases have been confirmed, including 707 cases that reside in Tainan City, 452 cases that reside in Kaohsiung City, 7 cases that reside in Taoyuan County, 4 cases that reside in New Taipei City, and one case that resides in Taipei City, Miaoli County, Chiayi County, Taitung County and Penghu County. 

6 of the 19 new dengue cases in Kaohsiung City have been reported in Lingyan District, 8 of the 25 new cases in Tainan City have been reported in West Central District and North District, and one new case in New Taipei City who has a medical history of chronic illness has been reported in Zhonghe District. The new case from Zhonghe District, New Taipei City is currently hospitalized for medical treatment and an investigation into the source of infection is underway. The two new dengue hemorrhagic fever cases confirmed last week both reside in Cianjhen District, Kaohsiung City. As of now, they have been recovered and discharged from the hospital. 

Although the dengue activities in both Kaoshisung City and Tainan City have slowed, cases of dengue hemorrhagic fever have continued to occur. In addition, one new indigenous dengue case has been reported in New Taipei City.  As a result, Taiwan CDC once again urges the public to remain vigilant against dengue virus and clean up and remove vector-breeding sites to prevent further transmission. Moreover, based on the past-year experience, when a dengue epidemic drags into the winter, it will be harder to control the next year’s epidemic. Therefore, Taiwan CDC reminds the public to voluntarily remove standing water, clean up vector breeding sites and reduce the number of water-storage containers in and around residences at least once a week to prevent dengue transmission.   

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 Consultation Hotline, 1922, or 0800-024582 if calling from a cell phone, or visit the Taiwan CDC’s website at http://www.cdc.gov.tw.