During September 25 and October 1, 2012, a total of 94 indigenous dengue cases, including a cluster of 7 cases that occurred in central-northern Taiwan, and 10 imported dengue cases were reported. Of the new cases, 69 cases reside in Tainan City and 18 cases reside in Kaohsiung City. Since the beginning of this summer, a cumulative total of 538 dengue cases have been confirmed, including 403 cases that reside in Tainan City, 122 cases that reside in Kaohsiung City, 7 cases that reside in Taoyuan County, 2 cases that reside in New Taipei City, and one case that resides in Taipei City, Miaoli County, Chiayi County and Penghu County.  

According to the epidemiological investigation, the indigenous cluster is closely related to the first case that respectively occurred in New Taipei City and Taoyuan County. Laboratory test identified the infection originated in Taoyuan County. After a further investigation was conducted, the cluster involved a total of 10 confirmed dengue cases, including one imported case. Of the 10 cases, 8 cases, including one imported case, reside in Taoyuan County and 2 cases reside in New Taipei City. It is determined that the cluster started with a family trip that traveled to Southeast Asia in the end of July. Three days after returning to Taiwan, one of the persons developed suspected symptoms in early August. In addition, the case resides adjacent to vegetable fields and the woods, passing the infection to the neighbors. Moreover, other cases involved in the cluster have all visited the neighborhood prior to becoming infected with dengue virus. Therefore, Taiwan CDC once again urges people visiting areas at high risk of dengue transmission to take extra precautions to prevent mosquito bites.

The new 69 cases have mostly been reported in Annan District in Tainan City, and Lingya District in Kaohsiung City. The number of new cases reported during September 25 and October 1, 2012 is slightly less than that reported during the previous week. However, the distribution of cases has continued to spread wider, showing further spread of dengue virus. As a result, the public is advised to remain vigilant against dengue virus and clean up and remove vector-breeding sites to prevent further transmission.

As indigenous dengue clusters have also occurred in Macau, Taiwan CDC would like to remind the public to take prevention measures against mosquito bites when traveling abroad for business, pleasure or visiting relatives to prevent mosquito-borne infectious diseases. Further, Taiwan CDC emphasizes if symptoms such as fever, headache, fatigue, retroorbital pain, myalgia, and arthragia develop, please seek immediate medical attention and inform the doctor of any recent travel history and activity to facilitate prompt diagnosis and case reporting. On the other hand, Taiwan CDC urges the public to voluntarily remove standing water, clean up vector breeding sites and reduce the number of water-storage containers in and around residences at least once a week to prevent the spread of dengue fever. According to Article 70 of the Communicable Disease Control Act, anyone who refuses, evades or obstructs disease control measures such as inspection decided by competent authorities or fails to notify the competent authorities of the presence of vector breeding sites that is later identified by competent authorities or clean up vector breeding sites as requested by competent authorities may be fined NT$ 3,000 up to NT$ 15,000. For any questions or further information on dengue fever or dengue hemorrhagic fever, please call the toll-free Communicable Disease Reporting and Consultation Hotline, 1922, or  0800-024582 if calling from a cell phone, or visit the Taiwan CDC’s website at http://www.cdc.gov.tw.