Since the implementation of dengue NS1 rapid test for inbound passengers who are detected with a fever and have a travel history to areas affected by dengue at international airports on January 1, 2016, the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) has successfully identified 2 positive cases. Quarantine officers immediately provided relevant health education and insect repellent to the 2 individuals who would be subsequently followed up by the local health authority. At the same time, the local health authority have also implemented relevant prevention and control measures in the community to prevent further transmission of the disease.

Thus far this year, as of 8 am on January 5, 2016, a total of 28 passengers who are suspected of dengue infection have been detected through the fever screening system at the four international airports in Taiwan. Among them, 2 were tested positive, while the rest were tested negative. The two positive cases are a 60-year-old Taiwanese female and a 35-year-old Taiwanese female who respectively visited India and Thailand during the New Year holiday. As they displayed fever upon their arrival in Taiwan, the quarantine officers immediately took blood samples from them for dengue NS1 rapid test and their test results were positive. The local health authorities that were notified of the two cases immediately implemented cleaning of vector breeding sites and investigated the mosquito population density within a 50-meter-radius of the cases’ residences and places frequented by the cases.

Last year, a cumulative total of 364 imported dengue cases were reported, reaching a record high since 2010. As a result, Taiwan CDC has included the management of imported dengue cases as one of the major work items. Inbound passengers who are detected with a fever of 38℃ and above and who have stayed at a dengue-affected area over 6 days (including 6 days) will be asked to do the dengue NS1 rapid test to lower the risk of indigenous transmission. During 2010 and 2015, the numbers of imported dengue cases respectively are 304, 157, 207, 264, 240, and 364.

Dengue activity in Kaohsiung City has decreased for six consecutive weeks. On January 4, 2016, a total of additional 36 indigenous dengue cases were confirmed in Kaohsiung City. Since this summer, a cumulative total of 43,319 indigenous dengue cases, including 22,757 cases in Tainan City, 19,633 cases in Kaohsiung City, 398 cases in Pingtung City and imported and sporadic cases in other cities and counties, have been confirmed. 98.9% of the total reported cases have recovered.

On the other hand, the Center Epidemic Command Center (CECC) for Dengue Outbreak announced 6 new deaths associated with dengue infection. The 6 new deaths associated with dengue infection include 2 men and 4 women. All of them resided in Kaohsiung City. Their ages ranged between 54 and 78. Most of them had multiple chronic conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and renal failures, which coincided with the conditions of high-risk patients listed in the World Health Organization’s guidelines. Thus far, a cumulative total of 218 deaths, including 112 deaths in Tainan City, 103 deaths in Kaohsiung City, and 3 deaths in Pingtung City, were found to be linked with dengue infection. As of now, 9 deaths are still waiting to be reviewed. 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).