Department of Health, Taipei City Government

The Department of Health of the Taipei City Government reminds the public that it is currently peak season for dengue fever. Considering the local outbreaks of dengue fever and Japanese encephalitis, individuals should pay special attention to mosquito prevention when going out for travel or gatherings, and avoid mosquito bites to reduce the risk of infection.

According to monitoring data from the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control, Ministry of Health and Welfare, as of June 19th, 2023, there have been a total of 6 confirmed cases of Japanese encephalitis and 66 confirmed cases of dengue fever in Taiwan. Among them, 17 cases of dengue fever are local; all from Tainan City. The Department of Health of the Taipei City Government urges the public to practice "No mosquito breeding, no mosquito bites, and no mosquito entry" to prevent the spread of dengue fever and Japanese encephalitis.

No mosquito breeding: Due to the ongoing rainy weather and high temperatures, if stagnant water containers in the environment are not promptly cleaned after rainfall, they will provide favorable conditions for the breeding of disease-carrying mosquitoes. To prevent the further spread of dengue fever, the Department of Health of the Taipei City Government urges the public to practice the "Search, Eliminate, Clean, and Scrub" approach. It is advised to thoroughly inspect both indoor and outdoor areas of households and activity venues for any containers with stagnant water, and empty them out. Waste tires, iron and aluminum cans, canvas, plant saucers, tree holes, bamboo tubes, and plant leaf axils (betel nut and coconut leaves), as well as containers of golden pothos or lucky bamboo, can potentially collect stagnant water. They should be thoroughly removed, and any remaining items should be scrubbed to remove mosquito eggs from the container walls. Afterwards, they should be properly organized or inverted to prevent water accumulation. For water storage containers in use, they must be tightly covered or equipped with fine mesh, ensuring that the mesh does not come into contact with the water surface, to prevent mosquito larvae from hatching.

No mosquito bites: When traveling to dengue fever-prone areas, individuals should enhance self-protection measures by wearing light-colored long-sleeved clothing and pants. It is recommended to avoid staying outdoors under trees and to use government-approved mosquito repellents containing DEET, picaridin, or IR3535 on exposed skin.

No mosquito entry: Whether at home or during travel, it is advised to stay in houses with screens on doors and windows or use mosquito nets to prevent mosquito bites.

If individuals experience symptoms that are suggestive of dengue fever, such as fever, headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pain, or a rash, they should seek medical attention promptly and inform healthcare providers of their travel history.