On November 27, 2016, the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control announced the seventh and eighth indigenous dengue cases confirmed since this summer. The two cases are husband and wife who are the sixth indigenous dengue case’s neighbors. They were identified through expanded epidemiological investigation conducted within 100 meters of the sixth case’s residence. As the couple experienced suspected symptoms, they were asked to seek medical attention and get tested for dengue. On November 27, infection with dengue fever were confirmed in both cases. Hence it was determined that the three are the first cluster of dengue cases confirmed in a community since this summer. As we are still in the dengue season and influenza and dengue fever share some symptoms, Taiwan CDC strongly advises the public to pay attention to their own health, seek immediate medical attention when suspected symptoms develop and inform the doctor of any relevant medical history, recent travel history and activity to facilitate prompt diagnosis and case reporting. Furthermore, infected individuals are advised to take prevention measures against mosquito bites in order to prevent further spread of the disease.
The couple, a 52-year-old male and a 50-year-old female, have been asked to take proper measures to prevent mosquito bites and are resting at home. In addition, the other contact who is residing in the same household has not developed any symptoms and is being closely monitored. Moreover, during the incubation period, the two cases had not traveled overseas and to southern Taiwan, and they were found to be the neighbors of the sixth indigenous dengue case confirmed in Ruiguang Village, Neihu District, Taipei City. Their residences are merely 24 meters apart and they all visit the traditional market near their house. Therefore, it is determined that they are clustered cases in the same community. As of now, Taiwan CDC and the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) have implemented various prevention measures upon receiving the report of the cases and will conduct community surveillance for dengue fever till December 21. Further, Taiwan CDC Director-General Chou Jih-haw (周志浩) led disease prevention personnel from Taipei Regional Center, Taiwan CDC to visit Ruiguang Village and conduct environment inspection within 150 meters of the cases’ residence. They found that several places in the village have been littered with garbage and larval growth has been identified in unwanted tires, plastic cups, and portable car ports. The residents in Ruiguang Village have since been instructed the proper way to clean and remove vector breeding sites. In view of the fact that there might still be potential vector breeding sources in the village, the personnel from EPA would mobilize the residents to conduct environment cleaning on November 28. The residents have been strongly advised to cooperate in the cleaning efforts in order to prevent dengue from further spreading.
Since the beginning of this summer on May 1, 2016, a total of 8 indigenous dengue cases have been reported in Taiwan, including 3 cases in Taipei City, 2 cases respectively in Tainan City and Kaohsiung City, and 1 case in Pingtung County. Thus far this year, a cumulative total of 380 dengue cases have been reported in Taiwan. In addition, as of November 26, 2016, a cumulative total of 333 imported dengue cases have been confirmed in Taiwan, which is a record high compared to the same period in the past years, and they were mostly from Southeast Asian countries, including Indonesia and the Philippines. Laos has recently reported a rather high level of dengue activity. On the other hand, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and China have all recently reported declining dengue activity.
In light of the dengue cluster that occurred in Ruiguang Village, Neihu District, Taipei City and the fact that rain has recently continued to fall in all cities and counties in the nation, Taiwan CDC reminds the public that any standing water in the environment can facilitate mosquito breeding. Hence, the public is urged to attend to their environmental hygiene through voluntarily and promptly emptying and cleaning any standing water around their residence, including those on the rooftop and in the basement, and draining or removing any unused containers that collect standing water such as used tires, cans, canvas, plastic bottles, and plant pots in order to reduce the breeding of vector mosquitoes and prevent the transmission of dengue fever. As thoroughly eliminating vector breeding sources remains the most effective way to bring a dengue outbreak under control, residents in Taipei City are urged to reinforce the removing of vector-breeding sites in and around their residences and take prevention measures against mosquito bites to ward off infection and ensure their own health and the health of others. If symptoms such as fever, 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. 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).
- Last modified at 2016-11-28
- Data from Division of Planning and Coordination