Soldiers may be drafted to help wipe out mosquito breeding grounds in southern Taiwan after a rise in the number of new cases of dengue fever over the past few weeks, health officials said yesterday.
According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), as of yesterday, 4,464 confirmed cases had been reported nationwide. Of these, 121 cases were of the potentially fatal dengue hemorrhagic fever, which has already killed 13 people this year.
The outbreak this year is the worst since dengue fever returned to the country in the early 1980s. The last major outbreak was in 1988, when 4,389 people contracted the disease.
CDC officials said the number of cases of dengue hemorrhagic fever and the number of deaths from the disease, this year is greater than for all the past 14 years combined.
"Higher temperatures and abundant rainfall create an ideal environment for the mosquito to grow," said Chiang Ying-lung (江英隆), a CDC spokesman.
According to the center, three areas in southern Taiwan account for 98 percent of confirmed cases -- 2,305 cases in Kaohsiung City, 1,818 cases in Kaohsiung County and 233 in Pingtung County.
There has been a sharp rise in suspected and confirmed cases in Pingtung County in the past few weeks, the CDC said.
To combat the sharp rise in the number of cases, center officials held an emergency meeting in Pingtung County yesterday to coordinate assistance from soldiers, private pest control companies and local authorities.
The center has already requested manpower and equipment from the military and other authorities, such as Taipei City Government.
According to Chiang, Tungkang Township and Pingtung City have been most affected by the recent increase in dengue cases.
Environmental and health officials will spray pesticides today in Tungkang and promote public participation in the fight against the disease. Soldiers will carry out similar tasks in Pingtung City by Thursday, Chiang said.
"At least 150 soldiers will help out," Chiang said.
He said disinfecting empty buildings and unoccupied apartments in Pingtung County will be one of the primary tasks.
In southern Taiwan, Chiang said, public participation would be crucial to the eradication of the Aedes egypti mosquito that spreads the dengue fever virus.
The public is being advised to put all used cans and bottles into dustbins with covers, ensure there is no water in saucers underneath flower pots, tightly cover all water containers and keep drains unblocked.
CDC officials believe the number of confirmed cases will continue to rise until early next year and could exceed 5,000.
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