The Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) for dengue fever yesterday said now is the peak period for the disease and that the public should avoid floodwaters and standing water as Typhoon Dujuan approaches.
A total of 17,112 dengue cases have been reported nationwide since May, with 14,811 in Tainan and 2,025 in Kaohsiung, Centers for Disease Control (CDC) figures showed yesterday.
The number of new cases reported on Saturday were 454 nationwide, with 366 in Tainan and 73 in Kaohsiung, while other cases reported in central and northern Taiwan were all people who had recently traveled to Tainan, the CDC said.
Photo: Hung Jui-chin, Taipei Times
A 55-year-old woman in Taipei who returned to her hometown of Tainan between Sept. 11 and Wednesday was diagnosed with dengue fever after she went to a doctor in Taipei on Thursday, the Taipei City Health Bureau said.
The public should be cautious and seek medical treatment if they suspect they have been infected, especially if they have traveled in southern Taiwan, CDC Deputy Director-General Chuang Jen-hsiang (莊人祥) said.
Minister of Health and Welfare Chiang Been-huang (蔣丙煌) yesterday visited Tainan Hospital and Chimei Hospital, accompanied by Tainan Mayor William Lai (賴清德).
Chiang said the command center had asked Chimei Hospital and National Cheng Kung University Hospital to provide dengue fever emergency outpatient services over the three-day holiday weekend, as most hospitals and clinics would be closed.
Although more than 17,000 dengue cases have been reported so far, the majority of patients have already recovered, he said, adding that the use of dengue virus NS1 antigen rapid test kits this year has led to a substantial increase in reported cases, but has also help doctors diagnose the disease and begin treatment sooner.
The command center said that Typhoon Dujuan, which is expected to make landfall later today, might cause flooding in low-lying areas and the public should reinforce clean-up measures to prevent standing water — potential mosquito breeding sites — around their homes and offices.
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