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CDC warns travelers to beware of dengue fever

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) yesterday advised travelers to Southeast Asia to take proper precautionary measures against mosquito bites as an especially high number of imported dengue fever cases have been recorded so far this year.

CDC statistics showed that 107 Taiwanese have been infected by the mosquito-borne disease overseas this year, including 59 cases recorded since the beginning of the summer.

The number exceeded the 104 cases recorded during the first eight months of last year.

The situation makes it likely that the number of imported dengue fever cases will hit a new high this year, CDC Deputy Director-General Shih Wen-yi (施文儀) said.

Last month, 10 members of a local religious group were infected with dengue fever while taking part in volunteer relief efforts in Myanmar in the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis.

The cases were only discovered after one of the patients sought treatment after returning home.

Shih said the virus was later transmitted by mosquitoes from one of the patients to a woman and her daughter living nearby.
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