According to the statistics compiled by the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) for Dengue Outbreak, a total of additional 354 indigenous dengue cases were confirmed in Taiwan on November 22, 2015, including 343 cases in Kaohsiung City and 9 cases in Tainan City. The number of new cases reported in Kaohsiung City is 56 cases more than that reported during the same day last week, while the number of new cases reported in Tainan City is 14 cases less than that reported during the same day last week.

As dengue activity remains rampant in Kaohsiung City, the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) had begun to evaluate the outcome of the fifth phase of vector site cleaning program conducted in Kaohsiung City last week. The Kaohsiung City Government has continued to mobilize 800-900 people from all agencies under the government to partake in reinforced cleaning of vector breeding sites and emergency spraying of insecticides in 7 major hotpots of the outbreak, including Sanmin District, Cianjhen District, Fongshan District, Lingya District, Gushan District, Zuoying District, and Sinsing District. Last week, over 400 people from 14 agencies under the government completed the basic training would all participate in the emergency dengue prevention and control response efforts.

Since this summer, a cumulative total of 36,861 indigenous dengue cases, including 22,529 cases in Tainan City, 13,636 cases in Kaohsiung City, 243 cases in Pingtung City and imported and sporadic cases in other cities and counties, have been confirmed. On November 22, 2 new deaths that might be associated with dengue infection were reported. Thus far, a cumulative total of 158 deaths, including 112 deaths in Tainan City, 44 deaths in Kaohsiung City, and 2 deaths in Pingtung City, were found to be linked with dengue infection. 34 deaths, including 32 from Kaohsiung City and 2 from Tainan City, are still waiting to be reviewed. Currently, 58 dengue patients are being treated in the intensive care unit. 92.6 % of the total reported cases, which is 34,118 patients, have recovered.

CECC for Dengue Outbreak reminds that as the weather in southern Taiwan remains warm and still favors the growth of mosquito, the public to continue to reinforce emptying, cleaning and scrubbing of vector breeding sites in and around the residence to effectively prevent dengue transmission. The Kaohsiung City Government has set up outpatient services that use rapid tests to diagnose dengue fever in 20 hospitals in Kaohsiung City, including Kaohsiung Medical University Chung-Ho Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung Municipal Hsiao-Kang Hospital and E-Da Hospital, and a special care clinic for dengue patients has been set up in 6 hospitals in Kaohsiung City, including Kaohsiung Medical University Chung-Ho Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung Municipal Cijin Hospital, Yuan’s General Hospital, Kaohsiung Municipal Min-sheng Hospital, Naijung Hospital, and Linyuan Hospital. If symptoms such as high fever (≧38℃), headache, retroorbital pain, myalgia, arthralgia, and rash develop, please seek immediate medical attention and inform the doctor of any relevant medical history, recent travel history and activity to facilitate prompt diagnosis and case reporting. When dengue fever is diagnosed, please follow the doctor’s instructions in completing the treatment, drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration, and rest at home as much as possible to prevent the further spread of the virus through mosquitoes. For more information, please visit the Taiwan CDC website at http://www.cdc.gov.tw or call the toll-free Communicable Disease Reporting and Consultation Hotline, 1922 (or 0800-001922).