During October 9 and 15, 2012, a total of 65 new indigenous dengue cases and 1 death associated with dengue hemorrhagic fever were reported. Of the new cases, 47 cases reside in Tainan City and 18 cases reside in Kaohsiung City, including the 13th dengue hemorrhagic fever case. Since the beginning of this summer, a cumulative total of 670 dengue cases have been confirmed, including 480 cases that reside in Tainan City, 176 cases that reside in Kaohsiung City, 7 cases that reside in Taoyuan County, 2 cases that reside in New Taipei City, and one case that resides in Taipei City, Miaoli County, Chiayi County, Taitung County and Penghu County.

The new 65 cases have mostly been reported in Annan District in Tainan City, and Lingya District in Kaohsiung City. The number of new cases reported in Kaohsiung City during October 9 and 15, 2012 is slightly less than that reported during the previous week, while the number of new cases reported in Tainan City during October 9 and 15, 2012 is slightly more than that reported during the previous week. However, the distribution of cases has continued to spread wider, showing further spread of dengue virus, even though only one or two cases were reported in many villages.

According to the statistics compiled by Taiwan CDC during the last 10 years (2002-2011), the mortality rate of dengue hemorrhagic fever in Taiwan is about 10% (35/334). During 2009 and 2011, the rate was as high as 22% (11/49). Since the beginning of this dengue season, as of October 14, a total of 670 indigenous dengue cases, including 13 dengue hemorrhagic fever cases, have been reported. Of the cases 176 cases reside in Kaohsiung City, which include 12 dengue hemorrhagic fever cases that include 3 deaths. According to the past surveillance data, different strains of dengue virus have circulated in dengue-affected areas during the past years. As a result, the public is once again reminded that people who have been previously infected with one or more types of dengue virus are at greater risk of dengue hemorrhagic fever if infected again. On the other hand, 54% of dengue hemorrhagic fever cases reported during 2003 and 2011 have chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes and cancer and the mortality rate was as high as 37%. No death was reported among dengue hemorrhagic fever cases without chronic diseases.

Taiwan CDC would like to remind people who have been previously infected with dengue virus or have chronic diseasesto take prevention measures against mosquito bites to prevent dengue hemorrhagic fever. To prevent dengue transmission in the community, Taiwan CDC urges the public to voluntarily remove standing water, clean up vector breeding sites and reduce the number of water-storage containers in and around residences at least once a week to prevent the spread of dengue fever. Further, Taiwan CDC emphasizes if symptoms such as fever, headache, fatigue, retroorbital pain, myalgia, and arthragia develop, please seek immediate medical attention and inform the doctor of any recent travel history and activity to facilitate prompt diagnosis and case reporting.

For any questions or further information on dengue fever or dengue hemorrhagic fever, 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