NewsDesk @bactiman63

The Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (CDC) announced today the first locally transmitted dengue fever case in 2022.

Aedes aegypti/CDC

The case is a male in his 50s living in Tanzi District, Taichung City. When he went to the doctor on the 17th, the result of the dengue fever NS1 quick screening was positive. At present, the case has returned home to recuperate, and the co-resident has no suspected symptoms.

The CDC stated that the case has no recent history of foreign travel, and the main activities are at home in Taichung City and work and business locations in Taichung City and Changhua County. The source of infection is still to be clarified.

No local transmission of dengue was reported in 2021.

In order to prevent the spread of dengue, the health unit has gone to the surrounding area of ​​the case to conduct epidemic investigation, removal of breeding sources, chemical prevention and control, and public health education.

The CDC pointed out that the international dengue fever epidemic is heating up, and the epidemic situation in neighboring Southeast Asian/South Asian countries is at its peak or continues to rise. So far this year, there have been 20 imported dengue fever cases in Taiwan, which is higher than the total number of imported cases last year. The countries include Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, etc. With the gradual relaxation of border control and quarantine measures in our country, the risk of dengue fever has increased, and the public should be vigilant.

The CDC said the public should strengthen environmental rectification and removal of breeding sources after the rain, and implement “patrol, pour, clean, and brush” to reduce the density of vector mosquitoes; if you need to spend a long time outdoors, please wear light-colored long-sleeved clothing and use government-approved mosquito repellents.

The CDC reminds the public that they should seek medical attention as soon as possible and inform them of their travel history if they find symptoms of dengue fever, such as fever, headache, retro-orbital pain, muscle and joint pain, and rash.