Dengue fever cases surge in southern Taiwan

Xinhua in Taipei

(China Daily)

Updated: 2015-09-08

The number of dengue fever cases recorded in Taiwan surged by several hundred over the weekend, raising concern among health officials as the typical fall outbreak period neared.

At an emergency meeting convened by the Tainan city government over the weekend, experts warned the situation might quickly worsen if the government failed to halt the fast-spreading illness.

Since May, 5,948 cases of dengue have been reported, with about 90 percent in the southern city of Tainan, the island's health authorities said on Monday.

More than 360 new cases were reported over the weekend in Tainan, bringing the total number of patients there to 5,247. Neighboring Kaohsiung reported 609 cases, accounting for slightly more than 10 percent. Far fewer cases were confirmed in other cities and counties.

A 49-year-old man hospitalized on Friday was confirmed by the city's health agency on Monday as the fourth indigenous dengue case in Taipei.

Thirty dengue related deaths have been reported since May, one in Kaohsiung and the rest in Tainan. Cases typically surge during October and November.

Although most of the cases are reported in southern Taiwan, people in the north have no reason to be complacent, said Liu Ching-chuan, an epidemiologist from Cheng Kung University.

The environment protection agency in Taipei has increased inspections and sent employees to spray disinfectant around rooftop water tanks and city ponds.

Students in Tainan have been required to wear pants instead of shorts to school, an unusual measure in the summer, in an effort to reduce transmission.

Dengue is transmitted by mosquitoes. It causes such symptoms as headache, fever, exhaustion, severe muscle and joint pain and swollen glands.

(China Daily 09/08/2015 page4)