Snowy Owl
Retired in 2010, In Memoriam
2006/10/3
TAIPEI, CNA
The Executive Yuan announced yesterday the establishment of a cross-agency epidemic control unit to prevent the spread of dengue fever, prompted by a rapid increase in the number of dengue fever cases in southern Taiwan.
The unit was set up in line with the epidemic prevention act with the aim of controlling the number of dengue fever cases below 500 with zero fatalities this year nationwide at a time when the figure of locally acquired dengue fever cases was expected to hit 300 this week in southern Taiwan, with a growth rate of 41 new cases per week.
Since early summer, the number of dengue fever cases has risen to 287 at present, most of them reported in southern Kaohsiung City, Kaohsiung County and Pingtung County,according to statistics compiled by the Center for Disease Control under the Department of Health (DOH).
DOH Minister Hou Sheng-mao, who serves as the chief of the cross-agency task force, said that the DOH has since the beginning of this year earmarked more than NT$40 million in budget for cities and counties in southern regions to prevent and eliminate dengue fever.
In view of a breakout of dengue fever four years ago in southern Taiwan that infected 5,336 people and caused 21 deaths, the DOH plans to budget an additional NT$30 million to serve that purpose and has sent 30 epidemiologists, led by DOH Vice Minister Chen Tsai-chin, to be stationed in various cities and counties in the south, DOH officials said.