Re: Taiwan - dengue fever
Taiwan
Date: 26 Jun 2007
Source: Taipei Times [edited]
<http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2007/06/26/2003366883>
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reported
this summer's first indigenous case of Dengue
fever yesterday [25 Jun 2007]. The patient is a
21-year-old male resident of the Annan district
of Tainan County. According to a CDC press
release, the patient fell sick on 9 June [2007]
after exhibiting symptoms including fever and
joint soreness.
"
The patient did not have the hemorrhagic type of
dengue," said CDC deputy chief Lin Ting. "As of
the 21st [Jun 2007], he had left the hospital."
"The Breteau index is at level 4, meaning that
the outbreak was a matter of time," Lin said. The
Breteau index is a larval index that estimates
the number of [_Aedes aegypti_ larvae- and
pupae-. Mod.TY] infested containers per number of
inspected houses.
Although 16 other indigenous dengue fever cases
have been confirmed by the CDC this year [2007],
they occurred before March [2007], making them
the last cases of the previous year's [2006]
dengue fever season.
Historical trends indicate
that the 1st cases of indigenous dengue fever of
the year usually occur in September in Taiwan.
However, the 1st cases last year and this year
have occurred in June.
"
The earlier the first indigenous case occurs,
the worst the season is likely to be," Lin said.
The CDC believes that the latest indigenous case
was the result of a virus reintroduced by
travelers from abroad rather than an overwintered
virus from last season.
"The gap of 3 months between the last case of
last season and this case means that the virus
did not overwinter," Lin said, adding that an
overwintering virus, either due to a mild winter
or inadequate mosquito control, usually means a
dengue season of epidemic proportions.
The CDC has documented 40 cases of dengue fever
patients who entered Taiwan so far this year.
"But there could be more that we have not identified," Lin said.
[Byline: Angelica Oung]
--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail Rapporteur Brent Barrett
[It is possible that dengue virus carried over
from 2006 to 2007, producing so few cases that it
was essentially undetected. Genetic analysis for
comparison of dengue viruses isolated in 2006 and
2007 might provide evidence of endemic
persistence, reintroduction, or both.
A map of Taiwan can be accessed at:
<http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/taiwan_pol92.pdf>.
- Mod.TY]
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