Taiwan: Locally-acquired case of dengue fever reported in Kaohsiung

Event

A locally-acquired case of dengue fever, the first of the year in Taiwan, has been reported in Kaohsiung City as of early February. According to local sources, the case was reported in Qianzhen district. The further spread of the outbreak is possible in the near-term.

Context

Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne disease found mostly in urban and semi-urban areas. Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, fatigue, nausea, and rash. DengueHemorrhagic Fever (DHF) is a potentially deadly complication that is characterized by high fever, enlargement of the liver, and hemorrhaging.

Advice

Individuals present in Taipei are advised to take measures to protect themselves from mosquito bites (e.g. by wearing covering clothing, using insect repellent, and sleeping in a screened-in or air-conditioned room) and to eliminate possible mosquito breeding grounds on their properties (e.g. small pockets of fresh water, such as rainwater that has collected in cans, bottles, tires, flower pots, clogged gutters, etc.).