Tainan reports 1 new case of dengue fever imported from Vietnam. Health Bureau strengthens epidemic prevention and control

There is a new confirmed case of imported dengue fever in Tainan City. The patient is a Chinese female in her 50s from Guozhai in the Southern District. She traveled to Halong Bay in Vietnam from September 19 to 24. After returning to Taiwan, she went to the Shuixiangong Market and Quy Nhon Market in the Central and Western District to sell clothes. She developed fever symptoms on September 27 and was confirmed to be infected with dengue fever type 1. She is the eighth confirmed case of imported dengue fever in Tainan this year.

The Health Bureau pointed out that the case was active in the Narcissus Market and Quy Nhon Market on September 26 and 27 respectively. On September 27, he developed fever symptoms and went to the otolaryngology clinic for medical treatment the next day. After being notified and tested, the PCR positive was confirmed. Since the case had been in a crowded market during the period of viremia, if there are breeding sources of vector mosquitoes in the environment, it may increase the risk of vector mosquitoes biting the case and then spreading the disease.

After receiving the report, the Dengue Fever Prevention and Control Center immediately mobilized health units and district office epidemic prevention teams to conduct emergency spray control, environmental breeding source removal, and vector mosquito density surveys at the case's home, event location, and related markets. It also planned indoor and outdoor chemical control areas based on risks to reduce the density of vector mosquitoes and the risk of community transmission.

The Health Bureau also reminds market management units and stall vendors to be vigilant and immediately inspect the surroundings and environment of stalls, especially drainage ditches, containers, barrels, canvas grooves and other places where water is likely to accumulate, and implement "inspection, pouring, cleaning and brushing" to avoid leaving space for vector mosquitoes to breed.

According to statistics from the Department of Disease Control and Prevention of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, as of October 1, there have been a total of 176 dengue fever cases in China this year, including 11 local cases and 165 imported cases. The countries with the most overseas cases are Vietnam, followed by Indonesia, the Philippines, the Maldives and Malaysia.

The Tainan Dengue Fever Control Center stated that as of the 38th week of this year, more than 690,000 Aedes mosquito eggs have been captured in egg traps, and a total of 1,677 areas have met the mobilization prevention and control standards. In August, 2,078 high-risk areas were inspected, with the highest positive rate at tourist attractions at 14.29%, followed by parks at 8.85%. The prevention and control center emphasizes that removing stagnant water and breeding sources in the environment is still the most important first line of defense in preventing the spread of dengue fever.