Kaohsiung Hospital Dengue Outbreak Grows to Six Cases

Kaohsiung's Minsheng Hospital has reported an additional dengue fever case, raising the total number of infections linked to the hospital cluster to six. The newly confirmed patient is a 58-year-old male, identified as a close contact within the same ward as a previously diagnosed individual.

Health officials have expanded their investigation, identifying 128 people for follow-up monitoring. Of these, 92 individuals in the highest-risk group have undergone testing. The latest positive result brings the total number of confirmed dengue cases within the hospital cluster to six. Currently, there are no indications that the outbreak has spread beyond the hospital premises.

The newly diagnosed patient, a resident of a long-term care facility, has a history of diabetes, high blood pressure, and stroke. He was admitted to the same sixth-floor ward as the index case on May 29. He was transferred to Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital on June 8 for treatment and subsequently tested positive for dengue fever type 2.

To manage the outbreak effectively, the Health Bureau convened a special meeting with experts from various medical institutions. They discussed the progression and treatment of confirmed cases to ensure optimal patient care. The bureau reiterated that dengue fever has no effective vaccine or specific medication, posing a high risk of epidemic if the virus spreads into communities with breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

With recent rainfall, the Health Bureau urged the public to implement "inspect, dump, clear, and brush" measures to eliminate mosquito breeding sites after rain. The statement emphasized the importance of these preventive actions to control the spread of the disease.