Taiwan has over 6,000 cases of dengue fever. That’s the most in its history for this time of year. On Tuesday alone, Taiwan saw an additional 339 cases to make a total of 6,312. About 88% of the cases are in Tainan. Cases in Kaohsiung are also increasing with 635 persons infected.
Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Director-General Steve Kuo went to the south to set up an emergency command center to help fight the outbreak. He wants to see the outbreak turn around this month.
Opposition lawmakers in Tainan have blamed the central government for not doing enough to prevent the outbreak. Cabinet Spokesman Sun Lih-chyun said the local government should not shirk its responsibility in handling the outbreak. He also said the central government is working to fight the disease.
Sun said, "Up until now, in addition to providing reagents, we have meetings three times a week. The defense ministry and government agencies have sent personnel to clean neighborhoods. We are all working together closely. As CDC Director General Kuo has gone to work on the front lines, I believe that we can work together even more smoothly."
The central government is going to give NT$30 million to Tainan to help fight dengue fever.