An Epidemiological Analysis of Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever Cases in Taiwan from 2003 to 2011

Hsiao-Yu Hsu¹, Shu-Kuan Lai¹, Chun-Hsien Kuo¹, Chih-Wen Wu², Ding-Ping Liu³

2013 Vol.29 NO.21

Correspondence Author： Hsiao-Yu Hsu

Abstract：

       The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that several hundred thousand cases of dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) occurred worldwide every year. More than two thirds of the countries worldwide are threatened by the disease. Taiwan is located in the high-risk subtropical region where dengue fever has become a seasonal epidemic. After the disease has experienced a currency for over one hundred years and each serotype of the virus has presented, the risk of developing dengue hemorrhagic fever has relatively increased. This study analyzed a total of 93 indigenous DHF cases in Taiwan from 2003 to 2011. The results showed that the majority of the affected people were the elderly aged over 60 (59.2%). The most sub-typed dengue virus was serotype II virus (DEN-2), which accounted for 18 cases (19.4%). Sixteen cases (17.2%) had had repeated infections based on self-statements. Thirty four people had chronic diseases (36.6%). In the 93 DHF cases, 16 died from the disease, bringing the average case fatal rate to 17.2%. The population groups with higher rates of DHF infection in Taiwan include the elderly over 60 years old and those with chronic diseases. Since four serotypes of the dengue virus have sparked epidemics in southern Taiwan, citizens who reside in high-risk cities and counties, patients with chronic diseases, or people who have been infected with dengue virus should be provided health education to remind them to be vigilant in seeking medical assistant as soon as suspected symptoms developed, in order to reduce the death risk of DHF infections.