New cases of bacillary dysentery -- which is characterized by abdominal pain, diarrhea and blood and mucus in the feces -- rose dramatically last month, the Center for Disease Control said yesterday.
The number of new cases rose to 100 in September, up from about an average of 20 new cases monthly.
The center said the increase was likely attributable to poor public health conditions in the aftermath of recent typhoons.
In addition to severe diarrhea, other symptoms of bacillary dysentery include painful defecation, vomiting and fever. The latest outbreak of infections was reported in Hsinchu, where 20 mentally disabled students at a special education center were infected.
Another major outbreak last month occurred in Hualien County, where 45 students from two schools were infected.
In Taipei County, 24 cases were confirmed at a Hsintien daycare center for senior citizens and another 11 cases in the mountainous area of Wulai.
"The number of confirmed cases of bacillary dysentery reported last month was indeed exceptionally large," said Chiang Ying-lung (江英隆), deputy director-general of the Center for Disease Control.
"Usually, the number is about 20 each month in mountainous areas," he said
Chiang said contaminated water might be responsible for some of the cases.
In addition, Chiang said some of the cases might be hygiene-related.
"It's possible that poor hygiene in some areas in the wake of last month's typhoons is responsible for the increase in cases," he said.
In the Hsinchu case, the disease was likely spread by contact with the carrier and due to poor sanitary practices, Chiang said. "Other outbreaks are related to residents drinking unsterilized or insufficiently chlorinated spring and ground water," he said.
Chiang said that health workers had disinfected the areas where the cases were reported, and that the spread of the disease should be under control.
According to Taiwan Water Supply Corp, 88 percent of the nation's population enjoys a constant supply of tap water. The figure is nearly 100 percent in Taipei. Taiwan Water said that most urban areas are supplied with water that has been treated to control bacteria.
"But the service is not available in most mountainous areas because the investment required to install pipes and stations generates only a small return from very small, scattered populations," an official said.
The company charges NT$10 for each cubic meter of tap water.
Dysentery is transmitted by contact with carriers or through food or water contaminated by their feces.
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