As the ongoing dengue outbreaks in southern Taiwan remain rampant, on September 8, 2015, the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) invited the vector biology and tropical medicine expert Professor Cheng-Chen Chen (陳正成) of National Yang-Ming University to share his expertise. Professor Chen explained that to effectively control and prevent dengue fever, efforts should target vector habitats and reminded that as eliminating vector breeding sites is still the single most effective way to bring the outbreak under control, everyone should clean the vector breeding sources in and around their residences.

Professor Chen pointed out that Ae. Aegypti mosquitoes prefer staying indoor and they primarily bite humans, while Ae. Albopictus mosquitoes prefer staying outdoor and they primarily bite animals. Hence, Ae. aegypti mosquito is the main vector of dengue. Nonetheless, it is important to note that dengue prevention and control efforts are not limited to removing outdoor vector breeding sites and spraying insecticides, efforts should also include removing vector breeding sites indoor and those on the residential patio. Further, Professor Chen also mentioned currently most dengue prevention and control efforts are conducted by the government personnel and volunteers, the majority of the general public are not involved in implementing these efforts. Therefore, he also urged the general public to participate in implementing the relevant efforts in order to effectively control dengue fever.

During September 1 and 7, 2015, a total of 2,636 new dengue cases, including 2,626 indigenous cases and 10 imported cases, were confirmed in Taiwan. Among the indigenous cases, 2,353 were confirmed in Tainan City, 246 were confirmed in Kaohsiung City, and sporadic cases were confirmed in New Taipei City, Chiayi County, Pingtung County, Taichung City, Taoyuan City, Chiayi City, Hsinchu City, Changhua County, Taipei City, Penghu County and Hsinchu County. Since this summer, a cumulative total of 6,132 indigenous dengue cases have been confirmed, including 5,586 cases in Tainan City, which accounts for 88.5% of the total cases confirmed in Taiwan, 635 cases in Kaohsiung City, 20 cases in Pingtung County, and sporadic cases in 17 other cities and counties. As of now, 41 cases are hospitalized in the intensive care unit for treatment, including 37 cases in Tainan City, 3 cases in Kaohsiung City and 1 case in Pingtung County. A cumulative total of 31 deaths have been associated with dengue infection, including 29 cases in Tainan City and 2 cases in Kaohsiung City. 12 deaths have been reviewed. 10 were found to be associated with dengue infection, while dengue infection was eliminated as the cause of death in 2 cases. 19 deaths, including 18 from Tainan City and 1 from Kaohsiung City, are still waiting to be reviewed. On the other hand, a cumulative total of 185 imported cases have been confirmed and the majority of them were from countries in Southeast Asia such as Indonesia.

Taiwan CDC advises 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. In addition, dengue patients are also advised to avoid getting mosquito bites within five days after the onset of the disease in order to prevent further spread of the virus through other mosquitoes. To prevent mosquito bites, the public is urged to take precautions such as installing screen doors and window screens to houses, wearing light-colored clothing, long sleeves and long pants, using mosquito nets, mosquito repellent lamps and electric mosquito swatters, as well as applying officially approved mosquito repellent to exposed parts of the body. For more information, please visit the Taiwan CDC’s website at http://www.cdc.gov.tw or call the toll-free Communicable Disease Reporting and Care Hotline, 1922 (or 0800-001922).