The number of dengue fever confirmed since May has passed 20,000. That’s according to the latest statistics released Saturday by the Central Epidemic Command Center for Dengue Fever. The statistics show that the southern city of Tainan remains at the center of the outbreak, with more than 17,000 cases reported.
19,889 cases of the mosquito-borne illness were confirmed between the beginning of May and Friday, with 477 new cases added to the list on Friday alone. The majority of new cases reported Friday come from Tainan, while a further 112 were registered in neighboring Kaohsiung.
Dengue fever has so far claimed the lives of 56 people in Taiwan this year, including the five new suspected deaths reported Friday.
Although nearly 83% of those who have contracted hemorrhagic fever have recovered, 53 people are still receiving treatment in intensive care.
The command center says it will take extra precautions to prevent the disease from worsening in Kaohsiung as the number of confirmed cases there shows a slight increase.