Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Director-General Steve Kuo says that he has found reason for optimism when it comes to bringing dengue fever under control. Kuo on Sunday pointed to a gradual decrease in the daily number of new cases. He likened the eradication of sources of dengue fever to eliminating the causes of forest fires, but said that the situation could be brought under control by late September.
Taiwan has so far racked up more than 5,500 cases of dengue fever this summer. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) on Sunday put the nationwide total at 5,542, saying that more than 98% of those cases are concentrated in the southern cities of Tainan and Kaohsiung.
Tainan, in particular, has seen an overwhelming majority of the cases – 4,884. That’s about 88% of the total.
The city of Kaohsiung has had 571 cases, accounting for 10.30 percent.
Other cities and counties have had far fewer cases, with Pingtung reporting 20, New Taipei 15, Taichung 12, Taoyuan nine, Hsinchu County seven, Chiayi County six, Hsinchu City three and Chiayi City three.
This year’s strain of dengue fever is the type two virus. Experts say that the symptoms are different from in previous years, with patients exhibiting a longer lasting fever. They say that rashes and bone pain are not as common as in previous years, but that patients are more likely to be anxious or exhibit signs of depression.