TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Centers for Disease Control on Tuesday reported Taiwan’s first domestically transmitted case of dengue fever this year, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 64, per a press release.
The case was a man in his 60s in Kaohsiung’s Cianjhen District whose travel history led authorities to confirm it as a locally acquired case. He sought medical treatment on Friday for symptoms including fever, headache, and muscle soreness.
His diagnosis was confirmed with a rapid test, and a 400-meter perimeter around his home was inspected and cleaned.
Health authorities said the other dengue fever cases were imported and linked to travel in Southeast and South Asia. Indonesia accounted for the highest number of cases with 19, followed by the Maldives with 14 and Vietnam with eight.
The CDC said the total number of dengue fever cases recorded so far this year is similar to the same period last year, when 69 cases had been reported. However, officials warned that the onset of Taiwan’s rainy season, combined with high temperatures, creates favorable conditions for mosquito breeding, increasing the risk of local transmission.
The CDC urged the public to eliminate standing water around homes and neighborhoods to reduce mosquito breeding and lower the risk of infection.
Officials said the mosquitoes that transmit dengue fever commonly inhabit grassy outdoor areas, bushes, and dark indoor corners and require standing water to lay eggs after feeding.
To prevent mosquito larvae from developing, the CDC encouraged the public to follow the “Inspect, Empty, Clean, Scrub” principle by removing or cleaning containers that can collect water, including discarded tires, aluminum cans, tarpaulins, plastic bottles, and plant saucers, per a press release.
Large discarded items such as bathtubs and aquariums should be removed with assistance from sanitation crews, while smaller containers should be scrubbed with soap to remove mosquito eggs and stored upside down or properly covered, the agency said.
Water containers that remain in use should be cleaned and scrubbed at least once a week.
The CDC also advised people participating in outdoor activities to wear light-colored long-sleeved clothing and use government-approved mosquito repellents containing DEET, picaridin, or IR-3535.
Health authorities urged anyone experiencing symptoms associated with dengue fever, including fever, headaches, pain behind the eyes, or muscle and joint pain, to seek medical attention immediately and inform doctors about recent travel history.
Travelers returning from overseas who develop symptoms were also advised to notify airport quarantine personnel.
Medical institutions were urged to remain vigilant by asking patients about travel, occupational, contact, and cluster histories and to use dengue NS1 rapid test kits when appropriate to facilitate early diagnosis and reporting.
For more dengue fever information, visit the website or call the toll-free epidemic prevention hotline at 1922 or 0800-001922.
