People planning to attend the annual Baishatun Matsu pilgrimage should guard against mosquito bites amid the risk of dengue fever, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday.
Mosquito activity is increasing as temperatures rise, and large crowds and prolonged outdoor exposure during the pilgrimage could heighten the risk of dengue infection, CDC Deputy Director-General and spokeswoman Tseng Shu-hui (曾淑惠) said.
Pilgrims traveling through central and southern Yunlin County should take extra precautions, Tseng added.
Photo: Tsai Cheng-min, Taipei Times
Participants should wear light-colored, long-sleeved clothing and use mosquito repellents containing DEET, picaridin or IR3535, she said, adding that they should also avoid prolonged sun exposure and stay well hydrated.
Tseng urged the public to regularly empty containers that collect standing water to eliminate mosquito breeding sites.
Pilgrims should also maintain food and environmental hygiene, she said.
Those who develop a fever, cough or gastrointestinal symptoms should wear a mask and promptly seek medical attention, she said.
As of Tuesday, Taiwan had recorded 33 confirmed cases of dengue this year, all imported, with most originating in Southeast Asia, CDC data showed.
Although the number is lower than over the same period in 2024 and last year, the presence of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes in Taiwan means imported cases could still trigger local outbreaks, Tseng said.
As of last month, more than 500,000 dengue cases and about 100 deaths had been reported worldwide this year, mostly in South America, particularly Brazil and Bolivia, the CDC said.
Several Asian countries, including Cambodia, Laos, Sri Lanka and Vietnam have also reported an increase in dengue cases compared with the same period last year.
In addition to dengue, the CDC warned of the risk of viral gastroenteritis.
About 117,938 people sought medical treatment for diarrhea last week, it said.
Although that figure declined from the previous week, the CDC reported 107 cluster outbreaks over the past four weeks.
Among the 46 cases in which a virus was identified, most were attributed to norovirus.
The annual pilgrimage from Baishatun Matsu Temple (白沙屯拱天宮) in Miaoli County’s Tongsiao Township (通霄) to Chaotian Temple (朝天宮) in Yunlin County’s Beigang Township (北港) is one of the longest religious pilgrimages in Taiwan.
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