Pursuant to the five principles on reconstruction after the gas explosions in Kaohsiung agreed upon by the Executive Yuan and Kaohsiung City Government yesterday (August 8) with respect to dengue fever prevention, Minister of Health and Welfare Chiu Wen-Ta designated the Director-General of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Kuo Hsu-Sung, the Division Head of Vector-Borne Disease Control, Chen Chu-Tzu, and the Director of the Kaohsiung-Pingtung Regional Center, Chang Chao-Ching, to go to Kaohsiung City for meetings and discussions with the Director-General of Kaohsiung City Government’s Department of Health, He Chi-Kung. Based on the spirit of professionalism and the principle of collaboration, five principles have been formulated with Director-General He’s team for the prevention of dengue fever. 

1. The El Nino weather phenomenon, along with the gas explosions in Kaohsiung, has made dengue fever prevention exceedingly difficult this year. Case estimates may not reach into the tens of thousands this year, as in Singapore and Malaysia, but thousands of cases are expected. 
2. Dengue fever is an environmental disease by nature, so it cannot be wiped out unless various breeding sources are removed. Therefore, despite the difficulties, efforts to remove breeding sources in the environment must be maintained and the key to this is encouraging community residents’ own efforts. 
3. Any dengue fever prevention strategy should be adjusted with the development of the epidemic in order to avoid misallocation of resources. Also, the medical system’s preparation should be augmented to ensure early identification and early treatment of cases, in order to reduce the incidence of serious cases. 
4. The Central and Kaohsiung City governments have reached an agreement that the Ministry of Health and Welfare shall dispatch officers to Kaohsiung City to assist in the prevention of dengue fever. However, bricks cannot be made without straw: The Executive Yuan is urged to support this initiative by approving the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s budget application. 
5. In the long run, Taiwan’s dengue fever prevention strategy should be expanded in terms of international cooperation. More national resources shall be invested in and energy injected into the research and development of new prevention technology. For example, Taiwan may join with an international ally to research and develop a dengue fever vaccine in the hope that new technology can be applied to thoroughly control the hazard of dengue fever.