The Tainan City Government yesterday said it would introduce 5,000 paper-based dengue NS1 antigen rapid test kits for early diagnosis of dengue fever, which has raged the southern city, with 2,381 confirmed cases so far this year.
The tests, which use a color change to indicate a positive presence of the dengue NS1 antigen, are able to diagnose patients at an early stage and thus prevent the disease from spreading, Tainan Department of Health Director Lin Sheng-che (林聖哲) said.
Weather conditions have worsened the situation Lin said, adding that rain and humidity is favorable for vector breeding.
Department data released yesterday showed that 30 of the city’s 37 districts have reported cases of dengue fever.
The disease has claimed the lives of four people so far this year — all in Tainan. All four were elderly people over the age of 70, who suffered from other chronic illnesses.
Health officials said that people should ensure their homes are free of standing water, which is a common breeding ground for mosquitoes.
Symptoms of dengue fever include fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, and a skin rash. In a small proportion of cases, the disease can develop into dengue hemorrhagic fever, which can be fatal.
In other news, the nation yesterday reported its first case of brucellosis since 2011, with the patient, a 35-year-old caregiver from Indonesia, believed to have contracted the bacterial disease while overseas.
The woman was hospitalized on Aug. 3 after she developed a fever and backache. She was diagnosed with brucellosis, which is usually transmitted from animals to people, most often via unpasteurized dairy products, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said.
No one the woman has come into contact with has shown symptoms of the disease, the CDC said.
CDC Deputy Director Chuang Jen-hsiang (莊人祥) said it is believed to be an imported case, as the chances of contracting the disease in Taiwan are very low.
Taiwan last reported a case of brucellosis in 2011, when five imported cases from Africa, Southeast Asia and China were recorded.
The CDC said that travelers to those areas should avoid drinking unpasteurized milk, eating uncooked meat or coming into close contact with animals.
Symptoms of brucellosis include fever, sweating, and joint and muscle pain.
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