On August 25, 2010, the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) announced the first indigenous case of dengue hemorrhagic fever. The case is a 75-year-old female who resides in Gushan District, Kaohsiung City.On August 20, laboratory results confirmed dengue fever in the case.After the case was hospitalized, she developed bleeding tendency.On August 24, the hospital reported the patient as a suspected case of dengue hemorrhagic fever to the local health bureau and Taiwan CDC confirmed the diagnosis.Currently, the case is receiving treatment at the intensive care unit.

According to Taiwan CDC, the case developed fever, headache, joint pain, muscle pain, decreased appetite and dry mouth, nose and throat on August 17.On the next day, August 18, the case sought medical attention at a hospital and was reported to the local health bureau as a suspected case of dengue fever, which was later confirmed.On August 20, the case was hospitalized and stable.On August 23, the case developed symptoms of dengue hemorrhagic fever, including groin bruise, thrombocytopenia and pleural effusion. The case’s symptoms improved after treatment. On August 24, the case developed shock syndrome and was transferred to the intensive care unit for further treatment.One of the case’s family members in her household has also contracted dengue virus.

According to the surveillance data compiled by Taiwan CDC, this week, 7 new dengue cases have been reported in Gushan District, Kaohsiung City, bringing the total number of dengue cases to 18 since March, 2010.All of these cases live in Baoshu Village and Lyuchuan Village in Guanshan District, Kaohsiung City. Taiwan CDC notes that this year, clusters of DEN-1 and DEN-3 cases have occurred simultaneously.In the past years, epidemics of DEN-1, DEN-2, DEN-3 and DEN-4 had occurred.When a dengue patient has previously been infected with a different type of dengue virus, the chance that the patient will develop symptoms of dengue hemorrhagic fever is increased.Therefore, as the dengue epidemic gets worse, it is highly likely that an epidemic of dengue hemorrhagic fever might occur.According to the statistics compiled by Taiwan CDC during the last 16 years, the mortality rate of dengue hemorrhagic fever in Taiwan is as high as 9.5%.Taiwan CDC urges the public to seek immediate medical attention when suspected symptoms such as fever, headache, malaise, back eye socket pain, muscle ache or joint ache, or bleeding tendency develop, and inform the doctor of any recent travel history to facilitate diagnosis.

As the peak season for dengue has approached, Taiwan CDC urges the public to stay vigilant against the disease 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 dengue hemorrhagic fever and protect their health and the health of their family.

For any questions or further information on dengue fever or dengue hemorrhagic 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.