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Dengue fever may grow to nationwide epidemic: academic

With more than 500 cases reported in Kaohsiung and its neighboring regions, dengue fever is likely to develop into an nationwide epidemic if health authorities fail to prevent it from spreading, a local entomologist said yesterday.

Hsu Err-lieh (徐爾烈) of National Taiwan University's Department of Entomology said that dengue fever had raged through the island in the early 1930s with nearly 80 percent of the population contracting the viral disease.

Since the outbreak of the mosquito-borne disease was reported in Kaohsiung in late June, increasing numbers of patients suffering from dengue fever have been checking into hospitals in southern Taiwan.

Hsu said recent developments have him worried about a possile proliferation of the disease nationwide.

He said that in past years, endemic dengue fever usually broke out in August and the cases would peak in September and October. This summer, however, more than 500 cases have been reported.

In the Kaohsiung region, 10 patients are suffering from the potentially deadly form of the disease -- dengue hemorrhagic fever, according to reports.
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