Taiwan has recorded a historic high of 27 melioidosis infections so far this year, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday, attributing the surge to frequent typhoons and the disease’s long incubation period.
The latest six cases were reported in Kaohsiung between Tuesday last week and Monday following Typhoon Danas, with two resulting in death, CDC officials said in their weekly briefing.
The six infected people, aged 52 to 95, included two with confirmed exposure to contaminated floodwater or mud, the agency added.
Photo courtesy of Chien Huan-tsung
One of the deceased, a man in his 50s with a history of alcoholic hepatitis, developed fever and abdominal pain and later died from pneumonia and septic shock.
The second fatality was a bedridden man in his 90s with heart disease who rapidly succumbed to pneumonia and bloodstream infection, the CDC said.
Melioidosis-causing bacteria, commonly found in soil and stagnant water, tend to spread more easily after heavy rains, the CDC said.
An unusually high number of 13 cases were already reported between January and April, likely linked to four typhoons that struck Taiwan late last year, it said.
Health officials urged the public — particularly the elderly and those with chronic illnesses — to take precautions during storm cleanup, including wearing boots and gloves, and avoiding contact with contaminated water or soil.
The CDC advised anyone experiencing fever, abdominal pain or breathing difficulties after flood exposure to seek medical attention immediately.
Three Taiwanese airlines have prohibited passengers from packing Bluetooth earbuds and their charger cases in checked luggage. EVA Air and Uni Air said that Bluetooth earbuds and charger cases are categorized as portable electronic devices, which should be switched off if they are placed in checked luggage based on international aviation safety regulations. They must not be in standby or sleep mode. However, as charging would continue when earbuds are placed in the charger cases, which would contravene international aviation regulations, their cases must be carried as hand luggage, they said. Tigerair Taiwan said that earbud charger cases are equipped
Foreign travelers entering Taiwan on a short layover via Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport are receiving NT$600 gift vouchers from yesterday, the Tourism Administration said, adding that it hopes the incentive would boost tourism consumption at the airport. The program, which allows travelers holding non-Taiwan passports who enter the country during a layover of up to 24 hours to claim a voucher, aims to promote attractions at the airport, the agency said in a statement on Friday. To participate, travelers must sign up on the campaign Web site, the agency said. They can then present their passport and boarding pass for their connecting international
Temperatures in northern Taiwan are forecast to reach as high as 30°C today, as an ongoing northeasterly seasonal wind system weakens, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. CWA forecaster Tseng Chao-cheng (曾昭誠) said yesterday that with the seasonal wind system weakening, warmer easterly winds would boost the temperature today. Daytime temperatures in northern Taiwan and Yilan County are expected to range from 28°C to 30°C today, up about 3°C from yesterday, Tseng said. According to the CWA, temperature highs in central and southern Taiwan could stay stable. However, the weather is expected to turn cooler starting tonight as the northeasterly wind system strengthens again
Taiwan sweltered through its hottest October on record, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday, the latest in a string of global temperature records. The main island endured its highest average temperature since 1950, CWA forecaster Liu Pei-teng said. Temperatures the world over have soared in recent years as human-induced climate change contributes to ever more erratic weather patterns. Taiwan’s average temperature was 27.381°C as of Thursday, Liu said. Liu said the average could slip 0.1°C by the end of yesterday, but it would still be higher than the previous record of 27.009°C in 2016. "The temperature only started lowering around Oct. 18 or 19
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