The first local case of dengue fever this year has been confirmed in Tainan City. The CDC held a press conference on Tuesday to report their findings and assure the public that measures are being taken to prevent more cases.
A 40-year-old woman living in Rende District, Tainan City, sought medical attention for persistent fever, dizziness, and abdominal pain earlier this month. The CDC said that this is a local case since she had not traveled abroad for 14 days prior to the onset of symptoms, and she had not been active outside of her neighborhood. The source of her infection is pending further investigation.
The CDC has set up a regional command center to check and remove possible mosquito breeding sources and begin chemical control. Screening stations are also being set up in the community to prevent the spread of the disease.
According to CDC statistics, there has been one local case of dengue fever and 45 imported cases so far this year. The disease is on the rise in the neighboring Southeast and South Asian countries and in the Americas, with more than 2 million cumulative cases worldwide.
The CDC reminds the public that summer rains increase the chance of a dengue outbreak, and people are urged to eliminate possible mosquito breeding sources. The symptoms of dengue fever are fever, headache, pain in the back of the eyes, muscle and joint pain, rash, etc. Anyone experiencing these should seek medical attention and divulge any recent travel to medical personnel.