The number of dengue fever cases has surpassed 9,000 in Taiwan so far this summer. But despite the increase, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) says there could be light at the end of the tunnel.
As of Sunday, the nationwide total reached 9,103 cases, of which, the vast majority are in one city: Tainan, which is located in southern Taiwan. Officials say that dengue fever cases in Tainan have reached 8,022. In fact, nearly 99% of all the cases nationwide are in Tainan and the neighboring Kaohsiung City and Pingtung County.
Despite the addition of 426 new cases since Saturday, the CDC says that’s actually a decrease in the number of new cases. CDC Deputy Director-General Chuang Jen-hsiang said, though, that the smaller number of new cases could be because fewer people are seeing the doctor on the weekend, or because fewer doctors reported cases. He urged the public to remain vigilant.
Experts say that this year’s strain of dengue fever is the type two virus, which has different symptoms from in previous years. They say that patients are exhibiting a longer lasting fever. Rashes and bone pain are not as common as in previous years, but doctors say that patients are more likely to be anxious or exhibit signs of depression.