The 2010 Executive Report for Dengue Fever Prevention and Control in Southern Taiwan and Health Education Strategies

Hui-Ping Huang; Wei-Siang Jhao ;Li-Li Ho; Shi-Hao Liu

2011 Vol.27 NO.10

Correspondence Author： Hui-Ping Huang

Abstract：

The incidence of domestic dengue fever increased continuously in October 2010 in southern Taiwan. The confirmed domestic dengue fever cases had stretched in five southern counties/cities. In respond to the dengue fever outbreak, the “Central Epidemic Command Center of Dengue Fever” was established by the Executive Yuan from October 21st to December 31st. The strategies for dengue fever prevention and control were implemented by the command center. Both directors of the Department of Health and the Environmental Protection Administration assumed the lead positions. Also, an Incident Command Post was established in southern Taiwan in order to supervise and direct the implementation of primary epidemic prevention and control measures.
The primary methods of controlling the dengue fever outbreak were “reducing the number of containers” and “eradicating mosquito vectors” in communities. For example, checking the environmental sanitation of the command center buildings, including abandoned buildings, in order to prevent mosquito breeding. The command center also intensely cooperated with local governments, encouraged the public to actively check environmental sanitation around their houses, especially mosquito breeding sites, and to implement the cleaning steps -- “check, empty, reduce, and clean” in daily life in order to maintain community sanitation.
Success in controlling dengue fever outbreak requires health education among the public through mass media and effective community cooperation. The purpose of health education is to ensure the public aware of the disease, as well as compliance with epidemic prevention measures. During the period of October 21st to December 31st, the health education strategies included dissemination of educational materials in local areas, education of the public through mobile media, distribution of educational materials through internet, distribution of educational materials at schools, and building a website for sharing experiences about controlling epidemic dengue. For different health education strategies, the modification and integration of these strategies should be taken into consideration in order to maximize the effect of health education. In addition, people in southern Taiwan from different target populations would be able to understand the epidemic prevention measures and be willing to follow the measures through integrated health education.