To strengthen this year’s dengue fever control and lower the risk of a large-scale outbreak, in addition to closely monitoring the epidemic development, the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) has implemented four main preventive actions: 

1. Earlier this year, a budget of NT$23 million was approved for the high-risk cities and counties to carry out dengue fever control plans. Rigorous supervisions have been placed on all city and county governments to take their preventive measures as early as possible. 

2. The Guidelines for Dengue Control were amended and published on February 1, providing local governments’ disease control personnel with a reference for their implementation. 

3. The applicable parties of the Dengue NS1 rapid test kit were broadened to facilitate early detection in patients in order to take preventive measures quickly. 

4. A national-level agency was created to conduct research on mosquito-borne diseases and assist local governments in their frontline control works. 

Also, in response to the confirmation of this year’s first domestic dengue fever case in Tainan City, the Taiwan CDC is studying the feasibility of the establishment of a command center to provide local governments with real-time and essential help. 

According to Taiwan CDC’s statistics, as of March 22 this year (2016), a total of 371 domestic dengue fever cases were reported, including 339 in Kaohsiung City, 20 in Pingtung County, 7 in Tainan City and 5 in the other 5 cities or counties; as for imported cases, a total of 64 were reported, mainly from Southeast Asian countries such as Indonesia and the Philippines. Another new case recently found in Tainan city was a resident in Annan District, who subsequently developed fever, fatigue and rashes on her limbs on March 15, and was confirmed as being infected with dengue fever after seeking medical attention on March 22. It was nearly two months from the onset date of the previous case (January 18). 

The recent unsettled weather and consecutive days of rain can easily fill household containers with water. If the water-filled containers are not emptied and cleaned regularly, they can turn into vector breeding sites, increasing the risk of dengue transmission. The Taiwan CDC urges the public to strengthen the management of the environment in and around their households with regular checks, thoroughly eliminate vector breeding sources and take personal precautions against mosquito bites in order to ward off dengue infection. For more information, please visit the Taiwan CDC website at http://www.cdc.gov.tw or call the Taiwan CDC toll-free hotline 1922 (or 0800-001922) for enquiries (available at all times). If calling from another country, please call the international hotline +886-800-001922 (caller is responsible for international telephone fees).