On July 2 2018, the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) announced this year’s first indigenous dengue case confirmed in an over 30-year-old male who resides in Cianjhen District, Kaohsiung City. On June 28, he sought medical attention at a clinic after developing fever, headache, and loss of appetite. When his symptoms persisted and he developed muscle aches, he sought medical attention twice on June 29 and 30. Infection with dengue virus type 3 was laboratory confirmed after the case was reported to the competent health authority. As of now, the case is hospitalized in isolation to prevent further transmission.
During the incubation period, the case did not travel, domestically or overseas. The case’s primary areas of daily activities include places around his residence and his workplace. It is determined that the case acquired his infection locally. Currently, none of his contacts residing in the same household have developed any suspected symptoms. To prevent the further spread of the disease, the local health authority has activated the district-level epidemic command center to conduct epidemiological investigation around the areas where the case frequents, helped eliminate vector breeding sites around the same areas, and reinforced health education among residents in the areas.
Thus far this year, as of July 1, 1 indigenous dengue case and 94 imported cases been confirmed. The number of imported cases confirmed so far this year is low compared to the same period during 2013 and 2018. During the recent one month, the majority of the imported cases reported in Taiwan became infected in Southeast Asian countries, including Cambodia, the Philippines, and Thailand. Last year, (2017), a total of 10 indigenous cases and 333 imported cases were confirmed. Recently, the levels of dengue activity in Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Sri Lanka have been on the rise, while the level of dengue activity in Malaysia has slightly lowered. As of now, the accumulative number of dengue cases confirmed in Thailand is 22,000, which is 48% higher than that reported during the same period last year. The levels of dengue activity in other Southeast Asian countries and China have been remained low.
The incubation period for dengue varies from 3 to 8 days and it can last up to 14 days. Some people experience mild symptoms or even no symptoms after infection. Classic symptoms include sudden onset of high fever (≧38oC), headache, retroorbital pain, muscle ache, joint pain, and rash. Severe dengue should be considered in patients who develop severe pain, spasm, coma, change in consciousness, and change in blood pressure 3 to 5 days after disease onset.
Summer has approached and the temperature has been high all across Taiwan. On top of that, central and southern Taiwan are especially under the influence of the southwest wind. As a result, rain is likely to occur in these two areas, which will lead to the accumulation of water containers in the environment that facilitate vector breeding. Hence, the public is urged to empty and clean any potential vector breeding sites such as containers that collect standing water in and around the home after the rain in order to prevent dengue transmission. In addition, as the summer vacation has arrived, Taiwan CDC reminds travelers planning to visit areas affected by dengue fever such as Southeast Asian countries to take precautions against mosquito bites, including wearing light-colored clothing, long sleeves and long pants, applying officially approved mosquito repellent to exposed parts of the body, staying at accommodations installed with window screens, screen doors or air conditioners. If symptoms such as fever, headache, retroorbital pain, myalgia, arthralgia, and rash develop after their return, please seek immediate medical attention and inform the physician of their travel activity history in order to facilitate early diagnosis, case reporting and treatment. Simultaneously, healthcare facilities are urged to remain vigilant for suspected cases and report them early in order to facilitate subsequent implementation of relevant measures by the competent health authorities. For more information, please visit the Taiwan CDC website at https://www.cdc.gov.tw or call the toll-free Communicable Disease Reporting and Consultation Hotline, 1922 (or 0800-001922).
- Last modified at 2018-07-03
- Data from Division of Planning and Coordination