During October 7 and 13, 2014, 6 new indigenous cases of dengue hemorrhagic fever were confirmed in Taiwan. All of the new cases confirmed last week occurred in Kaohsiung City. The new cases respectively are a 59-year-old male and an 85-year-old male who reside in Sinsing District, a four-year-old girl who resides in Fongshan District, a 66-year-old male who resides in Qiaotou District, a 57-year-old female who resides in Sanmin District, and a 52-year-old female who resides in Cianjhen District. Their illness onset occurred during September 18 and October 5. Only the 4-year-old girl who resides in Fongshan District does not have any history of specific medical conditions. All the other cases have a medical history of chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, end-stage kidney disease, hyperlipidemia or gout. Currently, two of the cases have recovered and been discharged from the hospital, while four cases are still hospitalized for treatment. None of the family members residing in the same household with the cases has developed suspected symptoms. At the time of writing, 2014, a cumulative total of 47 cases of dengue hemorrhagic fever have been confirmed this year. Of the cases, 36 have been discharged from the hospital, 6 died, and 5 are still hospitalized.

Last week, a total of 881 indigenous cases of dengue fever and 4 imported cases of dengue fever were confirmed. Among the indigenous cases, 855 cases were confirmed in Kaohsiung City, 18 cases were confirmed in Pingtung County, 7 cases were confirmed in Tainan City, and 1 case was confirmed in Taipei City. The number of cases is still on the rise.

As of October 13, 2014, a cumulative total of 4,929 cases of dengue fever, including 4,750 indigenous cases and 179 imported cases, have been confirmed this year. Of the cases, 4,736 cases were indigenous cases confirmed since this summer and 179 cases were imported from Indonesia (53), Malaysia (51), the Philippines (28), China (11), Singapore (7), Myanmar (7), Thailand (5), Vietnam (5), Nauru (2), Cambodia (2), Bangladesh (2), India (2), Japan (1), French Polynesia (1), Saudi Arabia (1) and Tuvalu (1). 

The Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) stresses that as we have entered the dengue season and four types of dengue virus have occurred in southern Taiwan. People who have been previously infected with one or more types of dengue virus and those with chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes and liver disease or cancer are strongly advised to pay additional attention to dengue prevention and take personal precautions against mosquito bites to prevent dengue fever and consequently dengue hemorrhagic fever. Once again, Taiwan CDC reminds the public to reinforce the removal of vector-breeding sites and ensure the cleanliness of the environment as well as take precautions against mosquito bites in order to minimize the risk of dengue infection. For more information on dengue fever, please visit the Taiwan CDC’s website at http://www.cdc.gov.tw or call the toll-free Communicable Disease Reporting and Consultation Hotline, 1922, or 0800-001922.