The public was advised yesterday to pay more attention to any symptoms of discomfort experienced after being bitten by mosquitoes, after this year’s first case of indigenous dengue fever was announced.
Lai Chung-chang (賴重彰), a physician at Dalin Tzu Chi General Hospital in Chiayi County, said the hot and humid summer weather was favorable to mosquito infestation, which can result in the transmission of diseases such as dengue fever and Japanese encephalitis.
People who come down with fever or experience drowsiness after being bitten by mosquitoes should seek medical treatment immediately, as these could be signs of serious illness, Lai said.
To prevent transmission of the disease, mosquito breeding grounds can be eradicated by removing standing water in containers and drains, he said.
Dengue fever and Japanese encephalitis are two of the most common mosquito-borne diseases in Taiwan.
Dengue fever is transmitted via the Aedes aegypti mosquito. The disease’s incubation period is between two and 15 days, with symptoms including high fever, severe headaches, retro-orbital pain, severe joint pain, muscle ache, general weakness, nausea, vomiting and a rash.
Japanese encephalitis, meanwhile, is transmitted via mosquitoes that become infected by feeding on pigs and wild birds infected with the virus.
The incubation period of the disease is between five and 15 days.
RSS