TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (CDC) announced on Wednesday (Oct. 11) that five more domestic deaths from dengue fever were reported last week in Tainan City and Yunlin County.
The deceased, all males aged between 60 to over 80, had underlying conditions. Health authorities have initiated preventive measures in areas where the victims resided and frequented.
Last week alone, 2,527 new local cases were reported, including 19 severe cases. Though the number of cases recorded in the past seven days is lower than the preceding week, the center attributes this to fewer clinics opened during the holiday to report cases and still considers the transmission risk high.
As of Oct. 10, local dengue fever cases this year have accumulated to 15,561, impacting over half of Taiwan's municipalities, marking the second-highest count in the past decade for this period.
Elderly patients and previous dengue fever sufferers are particularly warned to be vigilant of severe symptoms and signs of hemorrhaging.
This year also saw 186 imported cases of infection, predominantly originating from Southeast Asian countries, with Thailand and Vietnam accounting for 48 and 36 cases, respectively, and one imported severe case.