Taoyuan City announced its dengue prevention measures that impose fines if any dengue mosquito breeding sites are found.
According to the statistical data of the Centers for Disease Control, Ministry of Health and Welfare, there have been 29 dengue fever cases this year (27 were imported cases and 2 were local cases), of which 4 imported cases were in Taoyuan. The Department of Public Health made public the dengue prevention measures for Taoyuan City on August 29. The measures stipulate that a fine of NT$3,000 to NT$15,000 will be imposed in accordance with the Communicable Disease Control Act once it is found that standing water in containers is not drained or places that can collect water are not cleaned up properly, resulting in the breeding of dengue mosquito larvae (wigglers). A fine of NT$60,000 to NT$300,000 may be imposed for not cooperating with, dodging, or hindering dengue inspectors according to law.
Director Wang indicated that as border restrictions and quarantine measures are loosened, Taoyuan City, being the world’s gateway to Taiwan, is at higher risk of dengue epidemics. The dengue epidemics in Vietnam, the Philippines, Singapore, and other Southeast Asian countries near Taiwan are still at their peaks. Three out of the four imported cases in Taoyuan were from Vietnam and the other case was from Thailand. The Department of Public Health has asked the city government divisions and district offices to further extend the outreach of dengue prevention to more people. On top of that, the public health centers in all districts, the Environmental Maintenance and Inspection Section, community volunteers, and district office officers have constituted a team to eliminate environmental breeding sources and give education to households in all villages. As of the end of July this year, the team has inspected a total of 436 villages and drained 5,315 containers with standing water. As there have been showers recently, people have been appealed to increase the frequency of clearing up the places and containers that accumulate water inside/outside/around their houses to prevent dengue mosquitoes from breeding and avoid local dengue epidemics.
Director Wang mentioned that it is easy for dengue mosquitoes to breed if containers with standing water are not cleaned and washed in a timely manner in the peak season for dengue fever with the recent heat and rains and called on people to follow the four steps for preventing the breeding of dengue mosquitoes: “Inspecting, Draining, Cleaning, Washing.” For people who will travel to Southeast Asian and Southern Asian countries, you need to empty and turn containers with standing water in your house upside down before leaving. When going out, it is important to protect yourselves from mosquitoes by applying mosquito repellents approved by the Ministry of Health and Welfare on uncovered body areas. Please constantly check your health condition within 14 days after returning to Taiwan. In the case of fevers, headaches, muscle and joint pain, and other suspected dengue symptoms, please do not take medications on your own and seek medical attention as soon as possible and tell the doctor your travel history. The Department of Public Health has also instructed hospitals to remain vigilant and ask their patients for more detailed information on their TOCC (travel history, occupation, contact history, and cluster information). People with suspected dengue symptoms may seek medical attention for diagnosis in 197 medical institutions equipped with dengue NS1 rapid test kits in Taoyuan City. For detailed information, please visit the Department of Public Health’s website (https://reurl.cc/bEYVQd).