The number of dengue-related fatalities went over the 200, 300 and 500 mark in Taiwan, Malaysia and the Philippines, respectively, according to newly released public health data.
In Taiwan, health officials reported an additional nine deaths bringing the cumulative total to 204 deaths associated with dengue infection, including 112 in Tainan City, 90 in Kaohsiung City and 2 in Pingtung City.
Among the 204 deaths found to be associated with dengue infection, 106 are men and 98 are women. The median age is 75.5 years old. Each of them, on average, had two to three chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, coronary artery diseases and renal failures. The average number of days between onset and death is 6.25.
Since this summer, a cumulative total of 42,067 indigenous dengue cases, including 22,728 cases in Tainan City, 18,464 cases in Kaohsiung City and 356 cases in Pingtung City.
In Malaysia, the dengue fatality tally topped 300, according to new data from that country. As of 5 December 2015, there were 111,285 cases of dengue with 301 deaths reported in Malaysia for 2015. This is 16.3% higher compared with the same reporting period of 2014 (n=95,693).
The Philippines saw an increase of 27,000 dengue fever cases during the first three weeks of November. As of 21 November 2015, there were 169,435 suspected cases of dengue, including 511 deaths, reported in Philippines. This is 59.5% higher compared with the same reporting period in 2014 (n=106,241).
In addition, the death toll in the archipelago has eclipsed the 500 mark (511), according to newly published data.
Robert Herriman is a microbiologist and the Editor-in-Chief of Outbreak News Today and the Executive Editor of The Global Dispatch
Follow @bactiman63
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