Citing a US study, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) yesterday said that this year’s El Nino could lead to an epidemic of dengue fever cases in Southeast Asia.
The international research team, involving scientists from 18 institutions around the world and the ministries of health in each of the study countries, was led by University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health associate professor Willem van Panhuis.
The team analyzed 18 years of monthly dengue surveillance reports that had been compiled from 3.5 million cases of the disease in 273 provinces in eight countries — including Taiwan.
The team found that the exceptionally high occurrence of dengue fever in 1997 and 1998 coincided with high temperatures brought about by a strong El Nino effect allowing mosquitoes to reproduce faster and spread dengue virus more efficiently.
This phenomenon occurs about once every five years, with one of the most significant episodes expected in the coming months, the study said.
CDC Deputy Director-General Chuang Jen-hsiang (莊人祥) said that El Nino typically occurs every two to five years, and the Central Weather Bureau forecast the El Nino taking place from this summer through spring next year to be the most powerful in 18 years.
Affected by high temperatures brought by El Nino, the number of confirmed cases in some Southeast Asian countries is double or triple the number recorded last year, Chuang said.
“We hope to continue participating in research with these countries and establish a prediction model that will enable us to formulate prevention strategies,” he said.
As of Monday, a total of 20,972 indigenous dengue fever cases were reported nationwide, with 17,819 in Tainan and 2,806 in Kaohsiung. Seven deaths thought to be attributed to dengue fever were reported on Monday, and a total of 59 people are in intensive care units nationwide, CDC data showed.
UNDER INVESTIGATION: Huang’s body was found just outside the bathroom and showed no signs of a struggle, and no alcohol or drugs were found Singer and actor Alien Huang (黃鴻升) was found dead at his home in Taipei’s Beitou District (北投) yesterday. He was 36. Huang was also known by the nickname Xiao Gui (“little ghost”). His body was found when his father went to check on him after being unable to reach him by telephone, and called emergency services to the house at 11am, the Taipei City Police Department said. Huang’s body, which was discovered just outside the bathroom, showed no signs of a physical struggle, and he appeared to have been dead for some time, police said, adding that no drugs or alcohol were
Scooter riders should regularly clean their helmets, especially in summer, to prevent dirt and sweat from accumulating and causing scalp problems, such as hair loss and permanent baldness, a dermatologist has warned. Poor hygiene practices by helmet wearers often lead to scalp problems, such as bacterial folliculitis, tinea capitis and seborrheic dermatitis, Lu Pei-hsuan (呂佩璇) at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital said on Aug 31. The first step to maintain good scalp care is proper hair washing, as shampoo residues can easily cause dandruff and itchy scalps, while improper scratching will cause inflammation, Lu said. The best way to wash your hair is to
CONFIRMED IN PHILIPPINES: The CECC would conduct contact tracing for the migrant workers to determine if they had come into contact with elderly people or children Six Filipinos tested positive for COVID-19 upon returning home from Taiwan, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said yesterday as it reported a case of imported COVID-19 infection, bringing the number of confirmed cases in Taiwan to 500. Philippine authorities reported four of the cases through the National IHR Focal Point, while the other two were reported by the company that they had worked for in Taiwan. The six — five women and one man — are aged from their 20s to 40s, and worked as in-home care workers, domestic workers, factory workers and sailors in Taiwan, said Minister of Health and
INTIMIDATION: Chinese military maneuvers have mostly led to heightened support for Taiwan’s defense forces, while China appears poised to continue its campaign China’s incessant military activities in and near the Taiwan Strait over the past several months are “greater in meaning than in substance,” and are aimed at polarizing Taiwanese society, a researcher said in a report published on Friday. China has attempted to intimidate Taiwan through military threats, while at the same time calling on Taiwanese and US officials to practice restraint, which is aimed at causing a rift between those who prefer resistance against China and those who prefer peace, said Lee Kuan-cheng (李冠成), a researcher at the Institute for National Defense and Security Research. “China’s goal is to obscure public awareness
RSS