Dengue fever risk rises in Southeast Asia; Taiwan reports imported cases

As the summer travel season peaks, Southeast Asia is experiencing a surge in dengue fever cases, leading to a rise in imported infections in Taiwan. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in Taiwan is reminding the public to implement mosquito repellent measures.

Last week, Taiwan recorded eight imported dengue fever cases, with five originating from Vietnam and three from Cambodia. This brings the total number of confirmed cases in Taiwan this year to 111, comprising 104 imported and 7 local cases, all of which are in Kaohsiung City.

Guo Hung-wei, director of the epidemic command center, noted that imported cases continue to be primarily from Southeast Asian countries, with Indonesia accounting for the highest number (24), followed by Vietnam (23) and the Maldives (15). While the total case count remains lower than in previous years, neighboring Asian countries like Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Laos, and Bangladesh are seeing increasing outbreaks, necessitating heightened vigilance during the summer travel period.

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The number of imported cases from Southeast Asian countries remains the main source. The case sources are mainly from Indonesia (24 cases), followed by Vietnam (23 cases) and the Maldives (15 cases).

Lin Ming-cheng, deputy director, highlighted that three recent Cambodian cases were part of a 38-person exchange group that traveled to Cambodia on July 23. These individuals developed symptoms between July 24 and 25 after returning to Taiwan. Initial medical consultations did not suspect dengue fever, leading to a delay in diagnosis and reporting, potentially extending the incubation period by two to three days.

The CDC advises travelers to research the epidemic situation in their destinations before departing. During travel, they should wear light-colored, long-sleeved clothing and use insect repellents containing DEET, Picaridin, or IR-3535, especially during dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active. Upon returning to Taiwan, individuals experiencing symptoms such as fever, headache, retro-orbital pain, or muscle and joint pain should seek prompt medical attention and disclose their travel history to aid in early diagnosis and reporting.

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The three cases from Cambodia last week were all members of the same 38-person exchange group. They went to Cambodia for exchanges on July 23, and developed symptoms successively from July 24 to 25 after returning. However, they did not suspect infection with dengue fever during their initial medical consultation, and were only diagnosed and reported after seeking medical attention for the second time, leading to a hidden period of at least two to three days.