Dengue outbreak hits Taiwan

The city of Tainan in southern Taiwan reported 2,152 cases of dengue fever since last May, making this the most severe dengue outbreak in the area.

Eighty percent of all the dengue cases in the country are in Tainan. Taipei had the highest number of dengue patients that say they got it from elsewhere.

The first dengue case was recorded last May 16. Four people have dies from dengue, all of whom were over 70 years old.

Professor Chen Chin-Seng, an expert on mosquito-linked infectious diseases, said that insufficient spraying of pesticides had contributed to the outbreak.

Two markets and a park were shut down to prevent the spread of the disease. Taiwan bureau officials are fumigating the areas and advised the residents to always drain stagnant water.

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