The outbreak of indigenous dengue fever has spread rapidly. The number of infections has already topped 10,000 this year, including the 1,531 cases reported last week.
In the southern city of Kaohsiung alone, there were 16 new infections of dengue hemorrhagic fever last week, a single week high. Four of them were over 60 years old and had chronic illness. They died after contracting the disease.
Centers for Disease Control (CDC) official Liu Ding-ping said Kaohsiung is the worst-affected area as 97% of the cases were reported there.
“The epidemic is still at its height. While new infections have decreased, the outbreak remains critical,” said Liu.
The CDC, together with the central government and the Environmental Protection Administration, has allocated 50 million Taiwan dollars (US$1.6 million) to help contain the outbreak in Kaohsiung.
Meanwhile, Kaohsiung health authorities have introduced a pilot program that will kill mosquito larvae by flooding drainage systems with sea water.