TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taoyuan said Tuesday it will begin fining residents NT$3,000 (US$95) to NT$15,000 for failing to remove standing water with mosquito larvae from June 1.
As of May 25, Taiwan had recorded 64 confirmed dengue fever cases this year, mostly linked to travel in Indonesia and the Maldives, per CNA. Taoyuan reported nine imported cases, primarily from the Philippines and Vietnam, per Liberty Times.
The city health bureau said a locally transmitted case was recently detected in southern Taiwan, raising concerns over increased community transmission risk. The city will implement expanded mosquito breeding prevention measures to curb dengue, chikungunya, and Zika virus infections.
Officials warned that dengue fever is transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, which breed in stagnant water such as flower pot trays, buckets, discarded tires, and outdoor containers. They said rainfall increases the risk if standing water is not cleared promptly.
Residents were urged to follow the “inspect, pour out, clean, and scrub” routine and check indoor and outdoor areas after rain. Travelers returning from abroad should conduct 14 days of self-health monitoring.
The bureau added that people with suspected symptoms can seek care at designated Taoyuan hospitals offering rapid dengue NS1 testing, with a full list available on its official website.
