On May 7, 2013, the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) announced 11 new indigenous cases of dengue fever and one imported case of dengue fever were confirmed last week (April 30 and May 6). As of May 6, 2013, a cumulative total of 34 indigenous dengue cases and 59 imported dengue cases have been confirmed this year, which are both higher than the numbers reported during the same period last year. 8 new indigenous cases confirmed last week all reside in Qijia Village, Chunri Township, Pingtung County, while the other 3 new indigenous cases reside in Gueichong Village, Chunri Township, Pingtung County. During the past two weeks, a total of 18 indigenous dengue cases have been confirmed in Chunri Township. As the weather in southern Taiwan for the coming week is going to be cloudy with occasional showers, Taiwan CDC urges the public to take precautions against mosquitoes and clean up vector-breeding sites as water tends to accumulate after the rain and vector mosquitoes can breed in any accumulation of water. Public is also urged to seek immediate medical attention when suspected symptoms develop. On the other hand, the physicians are advised to be vigilant for and notify any suspected cases to the health authority immediately to prevent further spread of the disease.

Taiwan CDC indicates that a geographic cluster of indigenous dengue cases has recently occurred in Chunri Township, Pingtung County. Both Qijia Village and Gueichong Village in Chunri Township, Pingtung County are not densely populated. Further, no indigenous dengue cases had occurred during the past 15 years. Hence, Taiwan CDC reminds physicians to stay vigilant and reinforce reporting of suspected cases to facilitate timely implementation of prevention measures and prevent the further spread of the disease 

Taiwan CDC stresses that everyone needs to participate in dengue control efforts in order to successfully contain the epidemic and urges the public to stay vigilant against dengue fever and take necessary measures such as draining water containers and cleaning up vector breeding sites around their residences as well as preventing mosquito bites to effectively prevent the spread of dengue fever and dengue hemorrhagic fever and protect their health and the health of their family. According to Article 70 of the Communicabe Disease Control Act, anyone who refuses, evades or obstructs disease control measures such as inspection decided by competent authorities or fails to notify the competent authorities of the presence of vector breeding sites that is later identified by competent authorities or clean up vector breeding sites as requested by competent authorities may be fined NT$ 3,000 up to NT$ 15,000. 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, they should seek medical attention immediately and inform the physician of the recent travel history to facilitate prompt diagnosis and treatment and prevent local transmission. 

For more information on dengue fever, please call the toll-free Communicable Disease Reporting and Care Hotline, 1922, or 0800-001922 if calling from a cell phone, or visit the Taiwan CDC’s website at http://www.cdc.gov.tw.