The seventh working group meeting held by the Central Epidemic Command Center for Dengue Epidemic (CECC) was convened by the Department of Health (DOH) and the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) in the morning of December 24, 2010.Since the dengue fever epidemics in southern Taiwan have abated and the local governments have developed sufficient capacity to control local, small-scale outbreaks, further cross-sector efforts are thus no longer needed.CECC has requested for disbandment with the Executive Yuan.Further, DOH, EPA and other relevant government sectors will continue to supervise and assist local governments in related dengue control efforts.

Since the establishment of the Central Epidemic Command Center for Dengue Epidemic (CECC) on October 21, 2010, through cross-sector cooperation among the central and the local governments, relevant government sectors, non-governmental organizations, health and environment-related agencies, schools, and residents in the community, the number of dengue cases reported has gradually decreased during the past two months. According to the epidemic surveillance data, the peak of the dengue epidemic occurred in week 42. The dengue epidemics in Tainan City and Tainan County have abated and the dengue epidemic in Kaohsiung County has been brought under control.Further, the number of dengue cases reported in Kaohsiung City has also significantly decreased.The epidemics in areas that are more seriously affected are all under control.No further cross-city/county transmission of dengue fever has been noted.

Between August and December 23, 2010, a cumulative total of 1506 indigenous cases, including 2 deaths, have been confirmed in Taiwan.This year, dengue epidemics have run rampant in Southeast Asia and the number of imported dengue cases, 293, has reached a record high. As of December 18, 2010, a total of 112,647 dengue cases, including 139 deaths have been reported in Thailand, a total of 45,165 dengue cases, including 133 deaths, have been reported in Malaysia, a total of 5,185 dengue cases have been reported in Singapore, a total of 123,939 dengue cases, including 737 deaths, have been reported in the Philippines, and a total of 109,304 dengue cases, including 84 deaths, have been reported in Vietnam.

Although CECC has ceased to function, the public should continue to follow government policies closely and clean up vector-breeding sites.CECC once again stresses that everyone needs to participate in dengue control efforts 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.

For any questions or further information on dengue fever, please call the toll-free Communicable Disease Case Reporting and Consultation Hotline 1922, or visit the CECC’s website: http://Dengue.nat.gov.tw.