On August 19, 2010, the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) announced a cluster of 3 dengue cases confirmed in Kaohsiung City. On the other hand, during a further epidemiologic investigation, another case has been confirmed in the other cluster of dengue cases that occurred in Guanmiao Township, Tainan City.Since the beginning of the dengue epidemic season in March, 2010, a total of 19 indigenous dengue cases have been reported.Taiwan CDC urges the public to clean up vector-breeding sites found in and around the homes and cooperate in epidemiologic investigations in order to prevent dengue transmission as the peak season for dengue has approached.

The case from the new cluster is a 50-year-old female who resides in Gushan District, Kaohsiung City. On August 14, 2010, she developed symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle pain, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting. On the same day, she sought medical attention at a clinic, but was not suspected of dengue infection.On August 16, she sought further medical attention at a hospital.On August 17, when her symptoms persisted, she sought medical attention again at the emergency department of the hospital.On August 18, she was reported as a dengue case to the local health bureau by the hospital.Taiwan CDC confirmed DEN-3 in the case.DEN-3 was the dominant dengue type circulating in Kaohsiung last year. Upon receiving the report of the case, the local health bureau immediately conducted an epidemiologic investigation and took measures to clean up vector-breeding sites.The investigation found that a 25-year-old male family member in her household and a 94-year-old female neighbor had developed suspected symptoms.After testing their blood samples, dengue fever was confirmed in both of them.In the cluster of dengue cases that occurred in Guanmiao Township, Tainan City, a new case of dengue fever has been confirmed in a 62-year-old female.

According to the surveillance data compiled by Taiwan CDC, a total of 11 indigenous dengue cases have been reported in Gushan District, Kaohsiung City since March, 2010.In light of the frequent occurrence of rainfall in the afternoon during the past weeks that resulted in an increased number of water-filled containers, the vector indices in the southern cities and counties of Taiwan have reached an alarming value.Taiwan CDC once again urges the public to stay alert 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 protect their health.

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 Taiwan CDC’s website: http://www.cdc.gov.tw.