As of March 12, 2013, the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) announced a total of 42 imported cases of dengue fever had been confirmed thus far this year, which is 1.5 times higher than the average number (28) reported during the same period in the past five years. Moreover, the ongoing dengue outbreaks in Southeast Asia are more severe than those occurred in the previous years. Hence, travelers wishing to visit areas affected by dengue outbreak are urged to reinforce protection against mosquitoes while traveling abroad, strengthen the cleaning and removing of vector breeding sites in and around the residence after returning to Taiwan, and seek prompt medical assistance when experiencing symptoms.

According to the statistics compiled by Taiwan CDC, the numbers of imported dengue cases reported during 2008 and 2013 respectively are: 17, 37, 36, 20, 30 and 42. The number of imported dengue cases hit a record high in 2013. This year’s imported cases are respectively from Indonesia (17), Thailand (8), Vietnam (5), Malaysia (4), Singapore (3), the Philippines (2), Cambodia (2) and Myanmar (1).

According to global infectious disease surveillance data, some countries in Southeast Asia are experiencing a more severe dengue outbreak this year, especially Singapore. As of March 2, 2013, a cumulative total of 2,220 dengue cases have been reported in Singapore, which is 3.8 times higher than that (589) reported during the same period last year and much higher than the average number (811) reported during the same period in the past 5 years. As of March 5, 2013, a cumulative total of 11,565 dengue cases, including 14 deaths, have been reported in Thailand, which is higher than that (2,851 cases, including 4 deaths) reported during the same period last year and 2.7 times higher than the average number reported during the same period in the past four years. As of February 19, 2013, a cumulative total of 797 dengue cases have been reported in Cambodia, which is 2 times higher than that (373) reported during the same period last year. As of February 22, 2013, a cumulative total of 1,070 dengue cases have been reported in Laos, which is 4 times higher than that (269) reported during the same period last year. As of March 2, 2013, a cumulative total of 4,371 dengue cases have been reported in Malaysia. During the same period last year, a total of 4,680 dengue cases were reported in Malaysia. As of February 23, 2013, a cumulative total of 13,765 dengue cases have been reported in the Philippines. During the same period last year, a total of 15,936 dengue cases were reported in the Philippines.

Taiwan CDC urges travelers visiting endemic areas, especially Southeast Asia, to take precautions against mosquito bites such as wearing light-colored clothing, long sleeves and long pants and applying officially approved mosquito repellent to exposed parts of the body to lower the risk of infection. Taiwan CDC emphasizes if symptoms such as fever, headache, fatigue, retroorbital pain, myalgia, and arthragia develop after returning to Taiwan, please seek immediate medical attention and inform the doctor of any recent travel history and activity to facilitate prompt diagnosis and case reporting. In addition, most dengue cases are asymptomatic. Yet, they can still pass on the virus to another person. Therefore, travelers returning to Taiwan should still reinforce the cleaning and removing of vector breeding sites in and around the residence in order to prevent dengue transmission in the community and protect the health and wellbeing of family and friends.