Dengue Fever Cluster Emerges at Kaohsiung Hospital; Six Confirmed Cases

Kaohsiung is grappling with a dengue fever outbreak, with six confirmed cases linked to an apparent cluster infection at Kaohsiung Municipal Min-Sheng Hospital. This marks the first hospital-acquired dengue cluster in eight years.

The hospital outbreak was discovered when health officials investigated a "sentinel case" who had been admitted to Min-Sheng Hospital during their incubation period. The hospital has since implemented measures including clearing breeding grounds, tidying the environment, and conducting emergency spraying. High-efficiency mosquito traps are being used to monitor mosquito density, and expanded testing is underway for hospital staff, current patients, and those recently discharged.

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Currently, it is a critical period for epidemic control. The central government established a mobile task force on June 12 to provide support in the south. In addition to assisting with risk assessment at the hospital, the team is also conducting inspections and prevention work in surrounding communities and construction sites to prevent further spread of the epidemic.

To combat the spread, Taiwan's Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has established a mobile task force that arrived in Kaohsiung on June 12. The team is assessing risks within the hospital and conducting patrols in surrounding communities and construction sites to identify and eliminate mosquito breeding sources. The CDC will continue monitoring the situation until July 12, with no signs of wider community spread currently observed.

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We urge the public to implement the 'inspect, empty, clean, brush' principle. Regularly inspect standing water containers around homes and workplaces, empty the water, clear away discarded containers, and brush the inner walls to prevent mosquito breeding.

Nationally, Taiwan has recorded seven local dengue cases as of June 14, all concentrated in Kaohsiung. Additionally, there have been 68 imported cases, the third-highest number for this period in five years. Approximately 70% of these imported cases originated from Southeast Asian countries, with Indonesia accounting for the most cases (21), followed by the Maldives (14) and Vietnam (9).

The CDC urges the public to adhere to the "inspect, empty, clean, brush" principle to prevent mosquito breeding, especially during the current dengue season exacerbated by recent rainfall. This includes regularly checking and clearing standing water in containers around homes and workplaces. When outdoors, people should wear light-colored long sleeves and pants and use insect repellent containing DEET, Picaridin, or IR-3535. The CDC also advises seeking medical attention for dengue-like symptoms such as fever, headache, and muscle aches, and informing doctors about travel history. Patients diagnosed with dengue should continue to take precautions against mosquito bites at home to prevent further transmission.

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If you experience symptoms such as fever, headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle aches, or joint pain, seek medical attention promptly and proactively inform your doctor about your travel and activity history to facilitate diagnosis.