According to the statistics compiled by the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) for Dengue Outbreak, a total of additional 442 indigenous dengue cases were confirmed in Taiwan on October 5, 2015, including 322 cases in Tainan City and 107 cases in Kaohsiung City. The number of new cases reported in Tainan City is 119 cases less than that reported last week, while the number of new cases reported in Kaohsiung City is 23 more than that reported last week.

The average number of new dengue cases reported in Tainan City has been on the decline, while that number in Kaohsiung City has slightly increased. Through concerted interventions, including removing vector habitats and chemical control of vector mosquitoes, implemented by the central and local governments, the ongoing dengue outbreak in Tainan City has been gradually brought under control. Nevertheless, as dengue activity usually peaks around this time of the year, emergency insecticide spraying will not be able to eliminate vector mosquito larvae in water containers. Hence, the public is urged to remain vigilant for dengue fever and reinforce the emptying and cleaning of vector breeding sites in and around their residences in order to ward off the disease.

Since this summer, a cumulative total of 20,972 indigenous dengue cases, including 17,819 cases in Tainan City, 2,806 cases in Kaohsiung City, 84 cases in Pingtung City and imported and sporadic cases in other cities in counties, have been confirmed. On October 5, 7 new deaths that might be associated with dengue infection were reported. Thus far, a cumulative total of 56 deaths were found to be linked with dengue infection. 63 deaths, including 54 from Tainan City, 8 from Kaohsiung City and 1 from Pingtung County, are still waiting to be reviewed. Currently, 59 dengue patients are being treated in the intensive care unit. 86.3 % of the total reported cases, which is approximately 18,090 patients, have recovered.

On the other hand, so far this year, a cumulative total of 246 imported dengue cases have been reported, which is the highest among the same period in 5 years. In addition, a cumulative total of 81,000 dengue cases have been confirmed in Thailand, which is 3 times more than that during the same period last year, a cumulative total of 92,000 dengue cases have been reported in Malaysia, a cumulative total of 43,000 dengue cases have been reported in Vietnam, and a cumulative total of 7,300 dengue cases have been reported in Singapore, which is approximately 2 times more than that reported during the same period in recent 5 years.

CECC for Dengue Outbreak urges travelers visiting areas affected by dengue 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. After returning home from the affected area, please monitor your own health for signs of suspected symptoms. If symptoms such as fever, headache, retroorbital pain, myalgia, arthralgia, and rash develop, please seek immediate medical attention and inform the doctor of any relevant medical history, recent travel history and activity to facilitate prompt diagnosis and case reporting. When dengue fever is diagnosed, please follow the doctor’s instructions in completing the treatment, drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration, and rest at home as much as possible to prevent the further spread of the virus through mosquitoes. For more information, please visit the Taiwan CDC website at http://www.cdc.gov.tw or call the toll-free Communicable Disease Reporting and Consultation Hotline, 1922 (or 0800-001922).