Following the confirmation of 49 new indigenous cases of dengue fever last week, the Centers for Disease Control yesterday said officials now expect the total number of infections in Taiwan to exceed 1,000 this year.
The figure set a record for the highest number of new cases in a single week this year. In the past week, 19 cases of migratory dengue were also confirmed, CDC Deputy Director Chou Jih-haw (周志浩) said.
To date, there have been 370 confirmed cases of dengue fever in Taiwan, most of which were concentrated in areas of Kaohsiung City and Tainan County, where the estimated number of mosquitoes carrying the virus has reached dangerous levels, officials said.
“There have been a lot of migratory cases. If these cases are not treated properly, the outbreak could be even more serious,” Chou said.
Chou said the highest incidence of dengue fever occurred in 2002, when 5,332 cases were reported. Officials were closely monitoring the situation and hoped this year’s outbreak would not reach such proportions. Still, it was not impossible that more than 1,000 cases could occur this year, health officials said.
The CDC urged households to maintain clean and dry environments, as mosquitoes carrying the dengue virus can easily proliferate where water has gathered in ditches, vases and other containers.
The authorities said they would step up efforts to warn residents against the risks of allowing water to gather and conduct inspections, as well as issue fines of between NT$3,000 and NT$15,000 to violators.
Health authorities said people who come down with a fever or experience drowsiness after being bitten by mosquitoes should seek medical treatment immediately, as these could be signs of serious illness.
Aside from dengue fever, the CDC was also keeping tabs on the spread of acute conjunctivitis — commonly known as red-eye syndrome — in eastern parts of the country.
Previously, the number of new cases had remained at low levels of between 10 and 20 per week, but recently, as many as 60 new cases have been reported every week.
Health officials were concerned that the outbreak may be linked to an increasing number of enterovirus infections.
Red-eye syndrome is a highly infectious disease that can be transmitted through eye secretions, for example, by touching one’s eyes without first washing one’s hands.
The incubation period is typically between 12 hours and 48 hours. Symptoms include eye irritation, a burning sensation in the eyes, excessive sensitivity to light, watering of the eyes, a feeling of foreign matter in the eyes and mucous eye discharge.
Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr arrived in Taiwan last night to kick off his first visit to the country since beginning his second term earlier this year. After arriving at Taoyuan International Airport at around 6:30 pm, Whipps and his delegation were welcomed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍). Speaking to gathered media, the Palauan leader said he was excited and honored to be back in Taiwan on his first state visit to Taiwan since he was sworn in this January. Among those traveling with Whipps is Minister of State Gustav N. Aitaro, Public Infrastructure
President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday thanked Palau for its continued support of Taiwan's international participation, as Taipei was once again excluded from the World Health Assembly (WHA) currently taking place in Switzerland. "Palau has never stopped voicing support for Taiwan" in the UN General Assembly, the WHO and other UN-affiliated agencies, Lai said during a bilateral meeting with visiting Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. "We have been profoundly touched by these endorsements," Lai said, praising the Pacific island nation's firm support as "courageous." Lai's remarks came as Taiwan was excluded for the ninth consecutive year from the WHA, which is being held in
RESOLUTIONS DEBATE: Taiwan’s allies said that UN and WHA resolutions cited by China and other nations ‘do not determine Taiwan’s participation in WHO activities’ A proposal to invite Taiwan to this year’s World Health Assembly (WHA) was rejected on Monday, resulting in Taipei’s absence from the annual meeting for a ninth consecutive year, although partners spoke up for Taiwan’s participation at the first day of the meeting. The first agenda item after the opening was a “two-on-two debate” on a proposal to invite Taiwan to participate at the WHA as an observer. Similar to previous years, two countries made statements in favor of the proposal, while two others expressed their opposition. Philippine Secretary of Health Teodoro Herbosa, president of the 78th WHA, accepted the WHA General Committee’s
At least three people died and more than a dozen were injured yesterday afternoon when a vehicle struck a group of pedestrians in New Taipei City’s Sansia District (三峽). The incident happened at about 4pm when a car rammed into pedestrians at an intersection near Bei Da Elementary School. Witnesses said the sedan, being driven at a high speed, ran a red light, knocking scooters out of the way and hitting students crossing the road before careening into a median near the intersection of Guocheng and Guoguang streets. The incident resulted in three deaths and 13 injuries, including the driver, a 78-year-old man
RSS