During November 12 and 18, 2013, 47 new indigenous cases of dengue fever and 2 imported cases of dengue fever were confirmed in Taiwan. According to the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC), the number of new indigenous dengue fever cases confirmed last week hit yet another record high so far this year. Most of the new cases confirmed last week occurred in Pingtung County (38), followed by Kaohsiung City (7) and Tainan City (2). As the risk of dengue transmission remains and the outbreak seems to continue spreading in southern Taiwan, the public is reminded to continue to thoroughly clean and remove any indoor and outdoor water containers and vector breeding sources to prevent further spread of the virus.

Of the 47 new indigenous cases, most cases reside in Pingtung County: 20 reside in Pingtung City, 17 reside in Wandan Township, and 1 resides in Yanpu Township, 7 reside in Kaohsiung City, and 2 reside in Tainan City.

As of November 18, 2013, a cumulative total of 295 indigenous dengue cases have been confirmed this dengue season. Among the indigenous dengue cases, 256 cases have been confirmed in Pingtung County, 25 cases have been confirmed in Kaohsiung City, 8 cases have been confirmed in Taipei City, 4 cases have been confirmed in Tainan City, and 1 case has been respectively confirmed in New Taipei City and Taichung City.

Taiwan CDC stresses that there is no effective vaccine or drugs against the dengue virus and thoroughly removing vector breeding sources, including indoor and outdoor water containers, remains the most effective way to prevent dengue 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.