TAIPEI (Taiwan News) —Minister of Health and Welfare Chiu Tai-yuan (邱泰源) announced 14 new cases of dengue fever in New Taipei on Saturday (Sept. 28), bringing the total number of dengue fever infections within the local cluster to 43.

Public health experts believe global warming has led mosquito populations to expand their habitats. The Aedes aegypti mosquito, responsible for dengue fever transmission, crossed the Tropic of Cancer and drifted to central and northern Taiwan, per PTS.

To try to stop the further spread of the disease, environmental workers carried out large-scale spraying efforts in New Taipei’s Zhonghe and Xindian districts. Chiu said, “The CDC has set up a mobile team and will send staff to observe and interact with local health officials. I believe this is a comprehensive approach to controlling the outbreak.” 

In the past, the dengue fever epidemic was more severe in the south, with few cases reported in the north. For instance, more than 20,000 cases of dengue fever were diagnosed in Tainan last year, but there have been no such cases in Tainan since March.

“If climate change continues, dengue fever in the south will change, and the risk of the disease will increase in central and northern parts of the country in the future,” said Huang Ching-gi (黃旌集), assistant researcher at the National Center for Mosquito-borne Infectious Diseases Control Research Center. 

As Typhoon Krathon brings abundant rain, Chiu said the week after a typhoon is critical to prevent and control dengue fever. He reminded the public to empty water containers in courtyards and remove breeding locations for mosquitoes.