On July 12, 2012, the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) announced this year’s first indigenous case of dengue hemorrhagic fever. The case is a 15-year-old male student who resides in Kaohsiung City. On July 4, he began to develop symptoms such as fever, loss of appetite and muscle pain. On July 5, he sought medical attention twice at a clinic. When his symptoms persisted and he developed rashes, he sought further medical attention at a hospital on July 9. He was reported to the health authority by the hospital as a suspected dengue case and was hospitalized in the intensive care unit for medical treatment. On July 10, dengue infection was confirmed in the case. When the case developed petechiae and a minor pleural effusion, he was reported to the health authority by the hospital as a suspected dengue hemorrhagic fever case on July 11. The infection was later confirmed by Taiwan CDC. As of now, the symptoms have subsided and the case has been transferred to a general ward. Further, none of the other 3 family members in the household has developed suspected symptoms. Taiwan CDC urges the public to clean up and remove water storage containers around their home both indoor and outdoor and take prevention measures against mosquito bites to prevent dengue transmission.

According to past surveillance data, over the recent three years (2009~2011), indigenous dengue hemorrhagic fever has a mortality rate of 22% (11/49). As of July 11, a total of 28 indigenous dengue cases have been reported in Tainan City (21 cases) and Kaohsiung City (7 cases). This year’s dengue season started in May, which is earlier than that in previous years, due to a variety of factors that promote the transmission of the virus, including an increase in the number of imported cases and increased frequency of heavy downpours. As the environment determines the potential of dengue transmission, Taiwan CDC urges the public to voluntarily clean up vector breeding sites and reduce the number of water-storage containers in and around residences to prevent the spread of dengue fever. The public is also urged to periodically eliminate standing water on the rooftop and in the basement and drain or remove any unused containers that collect standing water such as used tires, cans, canvas, plastic bottles, and plant pots in order to reduce the breeding of vector mosquitoes. Taiwan CDC reminds the public to avoid mosquito bites by limiting visits to vector-prone areas. If, however, visits to vector-prone areas are unavoidable, please wear light-colored clothing, long sleeves and long pants and apply officially approved mosquito repellent to exposed parts of the body to prevent mosquito bites and lower the risk of infection. 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. On the other hand, Taiwan CDC also urges physicians to remain vigilant against dengue fever and report a patient to the health authority if he/she develops suspected symptoms to facilitate implementation of subsequent measures that prevent further spread of the disease.

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.