The heavy downpour brought by Typhoon Dujuan has resulted in serious floods in several areas. As rain has continued in some places, Commander Chang San-cheng of the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) for Dengue Outbreak specifically instructed relevant government agencies and local governments to reinforce the removal of vector breeding sites after the typhoon and requested the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reinforce the management and patrolling of vacant lands and buildings managed by the central government to eliminate any possible vector breeding sites and prevent further spread of dengue fever.

The Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) announced a total of additional 534 indigenous dengue cases were confirmed on September 28, 2015, including 441 cases in Tainan City, 84 cases in Kaohsiung City, 5 cases in Pingtung County, 3 cases in Taipei City, 1 case each in Keelung City and Changhua County. Among the newly confirmed cases, besides the cases confirmed in southern Taiwan, the cases confirmed in Taipei City, Keelung City and Changhua County are still being investigated. 6 new deaths that might be associated with dengue infection were reported. Thus far, a cumulative total of 42 deaths were found to be linked with dengue infection. 52 deaths, including 49 from Tainan City and 3 from Kaohsiung City, are still waiting to be reviewed. Since this summer, a cumulative total of 17,959 indigenous dengue cases have been confirmed. Of the cases, 14,439, including 12,526 cases in Tainan City and 1,672 cases in Kaohsiung City, have recovered from the disease. Indigenous cases have been reported in 21 cities and counties in the nation. 98.8% of the total cases were confirmed in southern Taiwan, while cases confirmed in other cities and counties are mostly imported and sporadic cases.

CECC for Dengue Outbreak once again reminds the public that one week after the typhoon is crucial to augment ongoing dengue prevention and control efforts. In addition, 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 mosquito bite and the further spread of the virus. As some households experienced power outages or cuts to their water supply, residents are urged to observe proper water, food and environmental hygiene to prevent enteric diseases. After power and water supplies resume, reservoirs should be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected before it is used for storing water again. Water should be boiled prior to consumption. Food that has been soaked in the flood water or left unfrozen for too long must not be consumed. For more information, please visit the Taiwan CDC’s website at http://www.cdc.gov.tw or call the toll-free Communicable Disease Reporting and Care Hotline, 1922 (or 0800-001922).