During August 14 and 20, 2012, a total of 16 indigenous dengue cases and 6 imported dengue cases were reported. Since May 2012, a cumulative total of 87 indigenous dengue cases have been confirmed, including 61 cases that occurred in Tainan City, 24 cases that occurred in Kaohsiung City, and one case that respectively occurred in Miaoli County and Chiayi County.

The 16 indigenous cases respectively are a 56-year-old male, a 63-year-old female, a 64-year-old female, a 55-year-old female, a 36-year-old male, a 61-year-old male, a 49-year-old female, a 58-year-old female, a 47-year-old female, a 57-year-old female who reside in Tainan City, a 29-year-old male, a 17-year-old female, a 51-year-old female and a 59-year-old male who reside in Kaohsiung City, a 31-year-old male who resides in Miaoli County, and a 71-year-old female who resides in Chiayi County. Further epidemiological investigation found that the indigenous cases that occurred in Miaoli County and Chiayi County respectively became infected in Kaohsiung City and Tainan City.  

5 of the 6 new imported cases originated in the Philippines. Four of the cases are college students who visited the Philippines for mission trips and volunteer opportunities. As of now, the majority of this year’s imported cases have originated in the Philippines. In light of the continuous occurrence of indigenous dengue cases in Southeast Asia, Taiwan CDC urges travelers visiting dengue-affected areas to take precautions against mosquito bites such as wearing light-colored clothing, long sleeves and long pants and applying officially approved mosquito repellent to exposed parts of the body to lower the risk of infection.

Travelers returning from areas affected by dengue fever are advised to pay attention to their health. If they feel ill and experience symptoms pertaining to dengue fever such as fever, headache, retroorbital pain, arthralgia, myalgia, and rashes upon arrival at the airport, they should inform the quarantine personnel at the airport and fill out the Communicable Disease Survey Form. If suspected symptoms develop within fifteen days of returning home, please seek medical attention immediately and inform the physician of the recent travel history to facilitate prompt diagnosis and treatment and prevent local transmission.

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.