Taipei, Nov. 17 (CNA) Taiwan recorded over 70 new cases of dengue fever infection in the past week, bringing to 387 the number of people infected with the mosquito-borne disease since the summer, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reported Tuesday. All are indigenous cases, including five dengue hemorrhagic fever infections, CDC Deputy Director Chou Jih-haw said.
Dengue hemorrhagic fever is a severe, potentially fatal infection that is different from normal dengue fever.
Chou noted that all the outbreaks this year have been reported from seven cities and counties, mostly in southern Taiwan. In Kaohsiung City, Kaohsiung County and Pingtung County, there are signs showing an expanding outbreak, he added.
Notably, the outbreak in Kaohsiung County has spread through nine of the county's ll administrative districts, Chou went on, warning that although the weather has been becoming colder, temperatures in southern areas are still higher than 15 degrees Celsius, which means that mosquitoes are still active.
Chou urged the public to take precautions against mosquito bites and to make sure their environments do not harbor stagnant water where mosquitoes breed.
Dengue fever is an influenza-like viral disease spread by the bite of infected mosquitoes. Patients develop symptoms including fever, headache, nausea, fatigue and pain in the muscles and joints.
Chou urged those who feel they might have been infected with the disease to report to their local health authorities, adding that those who report and test positive are entitled to a cash reward of NT$2,500 (US$77.85) for reporting the case.
(By Chen Ching-fang and Elizabeth Hsu)
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