In the morning of November 12, 2010, the Central Epidemic Command Center for Dengue Epidemic (CECC) held the forth working group meeting.According to the epidemiological data collected by CECC, the number of reported dengue cases has decreased over the past two weeks.Nevertheless, the dengue epidemic remains severe.Therefore, the public is urged to continue taking measures against dengue, including cleaning up vector breeding sites and reducing the number of water-storage containers in and around residences, in order to help bring the dengue outbreak under control.

Since the establishment of CECC, local governments and various government agencies have been actively promoting measures that help control dengue outbreaks.A number of specific accomplishments have resulted from the promotion of dengue control measures.For instance, during the past 2 weeks, no new dengue cases have been reported from some areas in Kaohsiung City, Tainan City and Tainan County that have reported more than ten cases since the beginning of the epidemic.

To evaluate the local government’s response to the ongoing dengue epidemic and accomplishment in dengue control, the command post set up by CECC is conducting an assessment.6-8 villages are grouped into one “warzone” based on the risk of dengue epidemic.The command post closely monitors the epidemic and evaluates the results of dengue control efforts implemented in each village in each “warzone” with the help of mobile squads.Further, according to the trend and development of the epidemic, the command post provides timely advice to each village for them to adjust their measures in order to effectively control the epidemic.

Between August and November 11, 2010, a total of 1082 indigenous cases have been confirmed in Taiwan, including 620 cases in Kaohsiung City, 311 cases in Tainan City, 92 cases in Tainan County, 35 cases in Kaohsiung County, 5 cases in Pingtung County, 2 cases in Taipei City, 15 cases in Taipei County, 1 case in Taoyuan County, and 1 case in Hsinchu County.This year, a cumulative total of 14 cases of dengue hemorrhagic fever have been reported, including 2 deaths.As we have entered the peak of dengue season, CECC cautions that the development of the epidemic during the next few weeks depends on whether relevant disease control measures are thoroughly implemented and urges the public to continuously clean up vector breeding sites and reduce the number of containers in order to effectively control the epidmeic.

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.