Following the confirmation of seven more locally-acquired cases of dengue fever last week, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has reiterated a warning to the public to avoid coming in contact with stagnant water after heavy rains.
Three of the most recent cases of the tropical disease were reported in Taipei, another three in Pingtung County and one in Greater Kaohsiung, the CDC said.
Two of the three dengue patients in Taipei were from Daan District (大安), while the other was from Nangang District (南港), the centers added.
The agency said that the three infected Taipei residents had reportedly all been to Zhongzheng District (中正), which is where the two dengue fever cases reported in the city two weeks ago were also found.
The CDC said it is carrying out an investigation to determine the source of infection and the density of mosquitoes carrying the virus in areas where cases have occurred.
Efforts to clean potential mosquito-breeding sites and chemically control the adult mosquito population are already underway to contain the spread of the disease, the centers added.
Factors such as the frequency of travel and interaction among urban populations and the number of water containers that can serve as mosquito breeding grounds result in higher mosquito density in an area.
Recent torrential rains accelerated mosquito breeding and made the insects more active, the CDC said, urging the public to empty and clean water containers inside and outside the house.
As of yesterday, 177 imported cases of dengue fever have been reported, distributed across 18 cities and counties across the country. However, the cases are mostly concentrated in five urban regions: Taipei, New Taipei City (新北市), Taoyuan County, Greater Taichung and Greater Tainan, according to the agency.
CDC stressed the importance of environmental hygiene as many who contract the dengue virus do not develop highly noticeable symptoms and if they are bitten by vector mosquitoes while the virus is still in their bloodstream, there is greater risk of an outbreak occurring.