An increasing number of dengue fever cases are being reported in southern Taiwan and the mosquitoes that carry the disease have developed resistance to insecticide because of indiscriminate spraying, an Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) official said yesterday.
Despite the recent cooler weather, dengue fever still poses a threat in the south, especially around Kaohsiung City.
Wendy Wu (吳文娟), deputy director of the Department of Environmental Sanitation and Toxic Substance Management, said there have been 374 dengue cases reported nationwide this year, including 263 in Kaohsiung City and 70 in Kaohsiung County.
Wu said people demand that local authorities spray insecticide in the mistaken belief that this is the most effective way to control dengue fever. Because of this indiscriminate spraying, mosquitoes have developed resistance, she said.
“Spraying insecticide is only a temporary solution to the problem,” she said, adding that the most effective preventive measure is to remove the standing water where mosquitoes breed.
A fourth public debate was held today about restarting the recently decommissioned Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant, ahead of a referendum on the controversial issue to be held in less than two weeks. A referendum on Aug. 23 is to ask voters if they agree that “the Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant should continue operations upon approval by the competent authority and confirmation that there are no safety concerns.” Anyone over 18 years of age can vote in the referendum. The vote comes just three months after its final reactor shut down, officially making Taiwan nuclear-free. Taiwan People’s Party Chairman Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) represented
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