On February 13, 2012, the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) announced one new imported dengue fever case in a traveler returning from the Philippines. According to the epidemiological investigation, the case visited Zamboanga City, the Philippines for promoting a religion and volunteer work during January 20 and February 2, 2012. After returning to Taiwan, the case developed headache and fever on February 3 and was diagnosed with dengue fever after seeking medical attention.

According to the investigation, the case visited the Philippines with a religious group for promoting the religion and participating in charity events. Seven other members in the group who reside in northern Taiwan were tested for dengue virus infection and four were tested positive. On the other hand, the person in charge of the religious group was advised to conduct dengue health education to all members visiting the Philippines. As of now, the health authority has implemented relevant measures to prevent further transmission of dengue virus, including completing the mosquito density survey and cleaning up of vector breeding sites. Simultaneously, the health authority has provided relevant travel health information to the religious group.

Taiwan CDC warns imported dengue cases might cause domestic outbreaks, posing a significant threat to the health of people in Taiwan, and advises the public to take precautions to avoid mosquito bites when visiting dengue-endemic areas by wearing light-colored clothing, long sleeves and long pants and applying officially approved mosquito repellent to exposed parts of the body in order to reduce the risk of dengue fever and other vector-borne infectious diseases.

Taiwan CDC once again reminds travelers to pay attention to their health after visiting dengue-endemic areas. If suspected symptoms such as fever, headache, rash, muscle or joint pains develop upon arrival or within 14 days of returning home, please seek immediate medical assistance and inform the doctor of the recent travel history to facilitate diagnosis and implementation of subsequent measures to prevent further spread of the disease. For more information, 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.