The number of dengue fever cases in Taiwan continue to rise as the country’s Center for Disease Control (CDC) reported an additional 328 cases. This brings the total cases on the island country to 28,429 since May, nearly double the previous high of 15,732 cases seen last year.
As of Wednesday, 21,523 cases had been reported in the southern city of Tainan and 6,402 in neighboring Kaohsiung, according to CDC figures.
Although dengue activity in Tainan City has gradually declined, it has remained at its peak in Kaohsiung City. To maintain effective dengue control in Tainan City, the local government is implementing the fifth phase of dengue prevention and control efforts.
Simultaneously, the Kaohsiung City government is implementing real-time chemical control and inspection activities on the management and patrolling of vector breeding sources in order to further strengthen existing prevention and control efforts and speed up the process of bringing the outbreak under control.
As fall approaches and the weather gets colder, CECC for Dengue Outbreak reminds the public that as dengue symptoms are similar to those of influenza-like illness, people who are eligible for the government-funded influenza vaccine to get vaccinated as soon as possible.
After returning home from the affected area, if symptoms such as fever, headache, retroorbital pain, myalgia, arthralgia, and rash develop, please seek immediate medical attention and inform the doctor of any relevant medical history, recent travel history and activity to facilitate prompt diagnosis and case reporting.
When dengue fever is diagnosed, please follow the doctor’s instructions in completing the treatment, drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration, and rest at home as much as possible to prevent the further spread of the virus through mosquitoes.
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