During October 21 and 27, 2014, 4 new indigenous cases of dengue hemorrhagic fever, including one death, were confirmed in Kaohsiung City, Taiwan. The casualty was a 76-year-old male who resided in Fengshan District. He had dengue fever in 2002 and a medical history of high blood pressure, diabetes and adenocarcinoma of the rectum. On October 13, he developed muscle ache, fever, abdominal pain and tenderness. During October 13 and 16, when he was receiving treatment in the intensive care unit, he was reported to the health authority as a suspected dengue fever case and a suspected dengue hemorrhagic fever case. On October 25, he died of septic shock and multiorgan dysfunction. None of the contacts who resided in the same household has developed suspected symptoms. On the other hand, all 4 new indigenous case of dengue hemorrhagic fever reside in Sanmin District and they respectively are a 76-year-old male, a 58-year-old male, 74-year-old female and a 70-year-old female. They developed symptoms during October 15 and 18. Several of them have a medical history of chronic conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure and Parkinson’s disease. As of now, one of the cases has been discharged while 3 other cases are still hospitalized for treatment. Thus far this year, a cumulative total of 59 cases of dengue hemorrhagic fever have been confirmed this year. Of the cases, 48 have been discharged from the hospital, 7 died, and 4 are still hospitalized.

Last week, a total of 1,525 indigenous cases of dengue fever and 6 imported cases of dengue fever were confirmed. Among the indigenous cases, 1,479 cases were confirmed in Kaohsiung City, 19 cases were confirmed in Pingtung County, 14 cases were confirmed in Tainan City, 4 cases were confirmed in New Taipei City, 2 cases were respectively confirmed in Yunlin County and Hsinchu City, 1 case was respectively confirmed in Taichung City, Taipei City, Taitung County, Penghu County and Taoyuan County. The number of cases is still on the rise.

As of October 27, 2014, a cumulative total of 7,636 cases of dengue fever, including 7,439 indigenous cases and 197 imported cases, have been confirmed this year. Of the cases, 7,425 cases were indigenous cases confirmed since this summer and 197 cases were imported from Malaysia (55), Indonesia (53), the Philippines (30), China (17), Singapore (9), Myanmar (7), Thailand (7), Vietnam (7), Nauru (2), Cambodia (2), Bangladesh (2), India (2), Japan (1), French Polynesia (1), Saudi Arabia (1) and Tuvalu (1).

Taiwan CDC stresses that as we have entered the peak of the dengue season and the numbers of cases and deaths continue to increase rapidly in Kaohsiung. Physicians are advised to be vigilant for and notify any suspected cases, especially those who present signs of dengue hemorrhagic fever such as fever, headache, fatigue, retroorbital pain, myalgia, and arthragia, to the health authority immediately and inquire such a patient of relevant travel and activity history as well as medical history of any chronic illnesses to facilitate prompt diagnosis and treatment, thus preventing the occurrence of severe cases and deaths. 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 Consultation Hotline, 1922, or 0800-001922.