The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) says the number of dengue fever infections reported in Taiwan since May has reached almost 17,000.
The CDC said on Saturday that as of Friday, the southern city of Tainan, which has been the bulk of the outbreak, had recorded 14,444 cases, while neighboring Kaohsiung City had seen 1,952 cases.
The CDC said since May, there have been 42 confirmed deaths from dengue fever in Taiwan. It added that 12,983 patients have recovered from the mosquito-borne disease, while 47 are currently being treated in intensive care units.
Dengue fever is an infectious tropical disease with symptoms that include fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, and skin rash. In a small number of cases, the disease can develop into hemorrhagic dengue fever, which can be fatal.