Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05TAIPEI3666
2005-09-06 02:22:00
UNCLASSIFIED
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Cable title:
Indigenous Dengue Fever Cases Reported In
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TAIPEI 003666
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/RSP/TC
STATE PLEASE PASS TO AIT/W
DHHS PLEASE PASS TO CDC DIVISIONS
FROM AIT KAOHSIUNG BRANCH OFFICE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AMGT CASC ECON SENV SOCI TW ESTH
SUBJECT: Indigenous Dengue Fever Cases Reported In
Kaohsiung, Southern Taiwan
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TAIPEI 003666
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/RSP/TC
STATE PLEASE PASS TO AIT/W
DHHS PLEASE PASS TO CDC DIVISIONS
FROM AIT KAOHSIUNG BRANCH OFFICE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AMGT CASC ECON SENV SOCI TW ESTH
SUBJECT: Indigenous Dengue Fever Cases Reported In
Kaohsiung, Southern Taiwan
1. Summary. On August 19, 2005, the Taiwan CDC announced
the island's first cases of indigenous Serotype III dengue
fever. The outbreak occurred in Kaohsiung City in southern
Taiwan. Between the date of the first reported case and
August 30th, there have been a total of four confirmed cases
and one suspected case of locally contracted dengue fever.
Local health officials found that the five infected patients
either resided in or had recently visited Joungjou ward, a
small, isolated fishing village, before developing symptoms.
Health officials also suspect that one infection originating
abroad, but confirmed on July 31st that Joungjou ward might
be the source of the current outbreak. Taiwan CDC has
called for better preventative measures for Taiwanese
traveling to Southeast Asian countries, since the most of
those countries have been unable to bring this year's dengue
fever epidemic under control. End Summary.
2. On August 19, Taiwan's CDC announced this year's first
reported indigenous case of dengue fever in Kaohsiung City,
southern Taiwan. The dengue virus was identified as
Serotype III. The case involved a 30-year-old male who
resides in the Hsiaokang District, Kaohsiung City. The
patient developed symptoms on August 13th and had visited
the Joungjou ward ferryboat station in the Chijin District
in early August.
3. In addition to the previously confirmed case, the CDC
has recently announced that three more confirmed cases and
one suspected case of locally contracted dengue fever in
Kaohsiung city. Local health officials found that all of
patients had either been living in, or had visited Chijin
District's Joungjou prior to developing symptoms.
4. Local health officials tracked the source of the
infection to a case reported at Joungjou ward that involved
a person who was infected while traveling outside Taiwan.
The case, confirmed on July 31st by the Taiwan CDC, involved
a patient who was infected with dengue after returning from
a trip to Southeast Asia. In order to prevent the spread of
the virus, the CDC is conducting insect abatement operations
at Joungjou ward and in the surrounding area.
5. According to Chiu Hong-ying, section chief of the CDC
southern branch office, Southeast Asian countries are
currently suffering severe outbreaks of dengue fever. Based
on CDC's statistics, as of August 16, 2005, there had been
38,635 confirmed cases in Indonesia (539 deaths),15,500 in
Vietnam (17 deaths),12,308 in the Philippines (159 deaths),
10,390 in Thailand (16 deaths),8,505 in Malaysia (11
deaths),and 7,099 in Singapore (1 death).
6. In Taiwan, according to Chiu, as of August 30, 2005,
there have been 57 imported cases of dengue fever, all of
which were contracted in Southeast Asia. Most of the
victims were infected while visiting relatives in Southeast
Asia. Chiu is worried that the governments of Southeast
Asia have been unable to bring this year's dengue fever
epidemic under control. He is urging Taiwanese traveling to
Southeast Asia to take advance preventative measures to
avoid infection.
7. Chiu noted that in 2002, the Kaohsiung area suffered an
outbreak of dengue fever Serotype II, and in 2004 the area
suffered an outbreak of Serotype I and IV. The five
recently confirmed cases are of Serotype III. Chiu urged
residents of Kaohsiung to use mosquito repellant to avoid
mosquito bites. In particular, Chiu added that residents
who had suffered previous dengue infections should be
especially alert to avoid contracting the virus again, since
a re-infection could easily develop into the more serious
dengue hemorrhagic fever.
8. Comment. The current outbreak is in an area close to
Kaohsiung's harbor and AIT/K's Container Security Initiative
(CSI) office. AIT/K staff, in the conduct of official
business, frequently visit the area. All AIT/K staff have
been briefed on the need to take necessary precautions to
avoid infection. End Comment.
Thiele
Keegan
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/RSP/TC
STATE PLEASE PASS TO AIT/W
DHHS PLEASE PASS TO CDC DIVISIONS
FROM AIT KAOHSIUNG BRANCH OFFICE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AMGT CASC ECON SENV SOCI TW ESTH
SUBJECT: Indigenous Dengue Fever Cases Reported In
Kaohsiung, Southern Taiwan
1. Summary. On August 19, 2005, the Taiwan CDC announced
the island's first cases of indigenous Serotype III dengue
fever. The outbreak occurred in Kaohsiung City in southern
Taiwan. Between the date of the first reported case and
August 30th, there have been a total of four confirmed cases
and one suspected case of locally contracted dengue fever.
Local health officials found that the five infected patients
either resided in or had recently visited Joungjou ward, a
small, isolated fishing village, before developing symptoms.
Health officials also suspect that one infection originating
abroad, but confirmed on July 31st that Joungjou ward might
be the source of the current outbreak. Taiwan CDC has
called for better preventative measures for Taiwanese
traveling to Southeast Asian countries, since the most of
those countries have been unable to bring this year's dengue
fever epidemic under control. End Summary.
2. On August 19, Taiwan's CDC announced this year's first
reported indigenous case of dengue fever in Kaohsiung City,
southern Taiwan. The dengue virus was identified as
Serotype III. The case involved a 30-year-old male who
resides in the Hsiaokang District, Kaohsiung City. The
patient developed symptoms on August 13th and had visited
the Joungjou ward ferryboat station in the Chijin District
in early August.
3. In addition to the previously confirmed case, the CDC
has recently announced that three more confirmed cases and
one suspected case of locally contracted dengue fever in
Kaohsiung city. Local health officials found that all of
patients had either been living in, or had visited Chijin
District's Joungjou prior to developing symptoms.
4. Local health officials tracked the source of the
infection to a case reported at Joungjou ward that involved
a person who was infected while traveling outside Taiwan.
The case, confirmed on July 31st by the Taiwan CDC, involved
a patient who was infected with dengue after returning from
a trip to Southeast Asia. In order to prevent the spread of
the virus, the CDC is conducting insect abatement operations
at Joungjou ward and in the surrounding area.
5. According to Chiu Hong-ying, section chief of the CDC
southern branch office, Southeast Asian countries are
currently suffering severe outbreaks of dengue fever. Based
on CDC's statistics, as of August 16, 2005, there had been
38,635 confirmed cases in Indonesia (539 deaths),15,500 in
Vietnam (17 deaths),12,308 in the Philippines (159 deaths),
10,390 in Thailand (16 deaths),8,505 in Malaysia (11
deaths),and 7,099 in Singapore (1 death).
6. In Taiwan, according to Chiu, as of August 30, 2005,
there have been 57 imported cases of dengue fever, all of
which were contracted in Southeast Asia. Most of the
victims were infected while visiting relatives in Southeast
Asia. Chiu is worried that the governments of Southeast
Asia have been unable to bring this year's dengue fever
epidemic under control. He is urging Taiwanese traveling to
Southeast Asia to take advance preventative measures to
avoid infection.
7. Chiu noted that in 2002, the Kaohsiung area suffered an
outbreak of dengue fever Serotype II, and in 2004 the area
suffered an outbreak of Serotype I and IV. The five
recently confirmed cases are of Serotype III. Chiu urged
residents of Kaohsiung to use mosquito repellant to avoid
mosquito bites. In particular, Chiu added that residents
who had suffered previous dengue infections should be
especially alert to avoid contracting the virus again, since
a re-infection could easily develop into the more serious
dengue hemorrhagic fever.
8. Comment. The current outbreak is in an area close to
Kaohsiung's harbor and AIT/K's Container Security Initiative
(CSI) office. AIT/K staff, in the conduct of official
business, frequently visit the area. All AIT/K staff have
been briefed on the need to take necessary precautions to
avoid infection. End Comment.
Thiele
Keegan