DENGUE/DHF UPDATES (36): 16 SEP 2002 ************************************ A ProMED-mail post <http://www.promedmail.org> ProMED-mail is a program of the International Society for Infectious Diseases <http://www.isid.org> In these updates: [1] & [2] Taiwan [3] Singapore [3] Malaysia ****** [1] Date: Mon 9 Sep 2002 From: Pablo Nart <p.nart@virgin.net> Source: Taiwan News (via Newsline), Sat 7 Sep 2002 [edited] So far this year, 3 people have been confirmed to have died as a result of dengue hemorrhagic fever in Taiwan, the Department of Health (DOH) reported yesterday. The 3 victims, residents of Kaohsiung City and Kaohsiung County in southern Taiwan, were confirmed to have died as a result of domestically-acquired dengue hemorrhagic fever, according to officials from the DOH Center for Disease Control (CDC). The death toll marks the highest annual number of people killed by locally-acquired dengue hemorrhagic fever in Taiwan in more than 10 years, the CDC officials said. According to CDC tallies, only one person died of dengue hemorrhagic fever in each of 1995, 1998, and 2001. And even in 1988 when more than 4000 dengue fever cases were reported around Taiwan, nobody died as a result of the fever. As of Fri 6 Sep 2002, 1685 cases of dengue fever have been reported island-wide since the outbreak of the mosquito-borne disease in Kaohsiung and its neighboring regions in late Jun 2002, according to the CDC. Of the 1685 reported cases, 26 have been cases of dengue hemorrhagic fever, including the 2 women and one man who have already died. Although a few cases have been reported in other parts of the island, most of the dengue fever cases have been reported in Kaohsiung, with 752 cases in Kaohsiung City and 878 cases in Kaohsiung County. ****** [2] Date: Mon 16 Sep 2002 From: Pablo Nart <p.nart@virgin.net> Source: Taiwan News (via Newsline, Fri 13 Sep 2002 [edited] Taiwan: Dengue Fever Cases Reach Highest Total Since 1988 --------------------------------------------------------- The number of people infected with dengue fever nationwide this year is closing in on 2000 cases, reaching the highest total since 1988. According to the [Taiwan] Center for Disease Control (CDC), there have been 1924 cases of dengue fever reported so far this year, and 30 cases reported of the more serious dengue hemorrhagic fever. The CDC said the epidemic is difficult to [control in the short term] and asked hospitals to spend more effort in treating dengue hemorrhagic fever, because the death rate could rise at the end of this epidemic period. Experts also warned of the danger of dengue fever, as its death rate could possibly rise from 1 percent to 50 percent in a short period of time. The tallies released by the CDC yesterday morning showed 1924 cases of dengue fever nationwide, including 876 cases in Kaohsiung City, 991 cases in Kaohsiung county, and 57 cases spread out over the rest of the country. According to the local media, however, the reported cases in Kaohsiung City and County had reached 900 and 1000 cases, respectively. The last serious epidemic of dengue fever occurred in 1988, with a record of 4389 cases reported. The CDC hopes the dengue fever toll is not as serious as in 1988. The deputy director-general of the CDC, Chiang Ying-lung, said the tallies of reported cases came directly from doctors and were believed to be accurate, but the CDC did not rule out the possibility that some patients with the disease had shown only minor symptoms and were therefore not diagnosed by physicians. The CDC has been pressuring doctors recently to report dengue fever cases expeditiously to more precisely control the spreading of the disease. One National Taiwan University Hospital physician was recently fined by the Taipei City Health Department for making a delayed report. Chiang also said he was not willing to make any predictions, but stressed that the most urgent task was to halt the spreading of the epidemic and eliminate mosquitoes. Chiang reminded the public to wear long-sleeve clothes and trousers to avoid being [bitten] by mosquitoes. Chiang also worried that more people could become infected as public election rallies are held and huge crowds gather for the upcoming mayoral elections. Huang Kao-bin, the convener of the infection control committee of Kaohsiung Medical University, was pessimistic. Huang said the fever had spread from Chienchen and Fengshan to other areas, and the past few rainy days helped create perfect breeding grounds for mosquitoes. He predicted that the number of cases could reach as high as 5000. However, officials from the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) said that there were signs that the number of mosquitoes were on the decline in some areas of Kaohsiung, and that the cleanup and inspection efforts were working. The EPA said they were more concerned about an epidemic next year, explaining that a more serious dengue epidemic usually occurs in the year following a year like this one if prevention work is not carried out thoroughly. As a consequence, the EPA is planning to start its mosquito cleanup effort next year in February rather than May. ****** [3] Date: Mon 9 Sep 2002 From: ProMED-mail <promed@promedmail.org> Source: ABC News / Reuters, Sun 8 Sep 2002 [edited] <http://abcnews.go.com/wire/US/reuters20020908_284.html> Singapore: Rise in Dengue Fever Cases ------------------------------------- Singapore is waging war on mosquitoes after a jump in the number of dengue fever cases and the deaths of 3 people in June and July 2002. A mix of hot weather and regular downpours is being blamed for an average of 440 cases a month since June compared with 318 during the same period of last year. In 2001, 4 people died of the mosquito-borne infection and 2 in 2000. "The current rise is according to the El Nino phenomenon. This kind of weather causes the mosquito to breed and mature faster; that's why you have more mosquitoes," a National Environment Agency spokeswoman said on Monday. El Nino, which has raised the surface temperature in parts of the Pacific Ocean and contributed to a rash of smoky fires raging in Indonesia, was the culprit behind a record 4300 cases of dengue in Singapore in 1997. Health and environment officials do not expect a repeat of this outbreak, largely because El Nino is not as strong this year. But they are not taking any chances. To inhibit mosquito breeding, the tropical island nation routinely clears standing water, and pest control companies spray housing estates and bush lands with an acrid chemical fog. This year, the environment agency has stepped up its public education program island-wide and distributed sachets of insecticide to residents in the northeast of the city state, whose gardens and potted plants are seen as prime breeding grounds. Symptoms of dengue, caused by one of 4 closely related viruses, are similar to a severe case of influenza. The condition is seldom deadly, but dengue hemorrhagic fever is a potentially fatal complication. The World Health Organization estimates there may be 50 million cases of dengue infection each year, with 2.5 billion people, a fifth of the world's population, at risk. ****** [4] Date: Mon 16 Sep 2002 From: Pablo Nart <p.nart@virgin.net> Source: New Straits Times, Fri 13 Sep 2002 [edited] <http://www.emedia.com.my/Current_News/NST/Friday/National/20020913082943/Article/> Malaysia: Dengue Alert in Federal Territory and 4 States ----------------------------------------------------------- On Thu 12 Sep 2002, 4 States and the Federal Territory issued a dengue alert in view of the alarming 142.8 per cent increase in cases since January 2002 compared to the same period in 2001. The States of Selangor, Perak, Kelantan, and Johor have appealed to the public to place Abate in water tanks, flower pots, septic tanks, and under refrigerators and to discard unwanted containers, bottles, and plastic bags. Health officials are identifying _Aedes_ breeding locations in and around construction sites, basements, lift wells, and trenches. There were 17 341 cases reported by the end of last month with 16 258 being dengue fever and the rest dengue haemorrhagic fever cases. There were 34 deaths during the period. Selangor topped the list with 4993 cases followed by Federal Territory (4094), Johor (1576) and Perak (1521). There were only 7110 reported cases last year, 3723 in 2000, and 4718 in 1999. State health department officials attributed the increase in cases to a stretch of wet weather followed by a short dry spell recently. Kuala Lumpur City Hall public relations officer Sariffuddin Ibrahim said the [appearance of a] new dengue virus, dengue virus type 3, was serious and had already claimed 4 lives this year. The deaths were reported in Desa Tasik Sungai Besi, Rumah Panjang Pudu Ulu in Cheras, Kampung Sungai Penchala, and Kampung Sejahtera. "We have issued a dengue alert in high risk dengue outbreak areas such as Setiawangsa, Keramat Wangsa, Datuk Keramat, Taman Melati, Desa Tun Hussein Onn, and Kampung Baru." He said DBKL had also put up banners alerting people besides conducting gotongroyong and fogging activities involving 4 million houses. Sariffuddin said they had embarked on house-to-house checks and water sampling to contain the spread of the disease. Selangor deputy health director (public health) Dr Rahimah Mohd Ariffin said [as of 7 Sep 2002], 5189 dengue cases had been reported of which 298 were dengue hemorrhagic fever. This is 82.6 percent more than the number of cases reported during the same period last year. There were 7 deaths reported so far. The area under the Selayang Municipal Council topped the list with 1212 cases and 3 deaths, Subang Jaya Municipal Council (982 with 2 deaths), Shah Alam City Council (639, one death), Petaling Jaya Municipality (517, one death), Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (379), Klang Municipal Council (334), Kajang Municipal Council (303), Hulu Selangor (233), Sepang (195), Kuala Langat (129), Sabak Bernam (113), Klang (102), and Kuala Selangor (51). Dr Rahimah also urged those suffering from sudden high and incessant fever, red spots on the skin and severe pain in the bones, muscles, joints, eyeballs, and head to seek immediate treatment. Those experiencing hemorrhaging, loss of appetite, vomiting, and stomach ache should also seek medical help. [Byline: Annie Freeda Cruez] -- ProMED-mail <promed@promedmail.org> [see also: Dengue/DHF updates (01): 14 Jan 2002 20020115.3265 Dengue/DHF updates (33): 26 Aug 2002 20020826.5151 2001 ---- Dengue/DHF - Malaysia 20010613.1147 Dengue - Singapore 20010712.1345 Dengue/DHF - Singapore (02) 20010812.1906 Dengue/DHF updates (01): 8 Jan 2001 20010108.0064 Dengue/DHF updates (21): 18 Dec 2001 20011218.3058 2000 ---- Dengue, declining - Malaysia 20000416.0543 Dengue - Singapore: background 20000318.0378 Dengue - Singapore: mosquito breeding places 20000305.0302 1999 ---- Dengue - Malaysia (Sarawak) 19990125.0119 Dengue - Malaysia (Sarawak) (02) 19990718.1206 Dengue - Malaysia: 1998 19990130.0134 Dengue - Malaysia: 1998 (02) 19990224.0249 Dengue - Malaysia: control 19990204.0162 Dengue/DHF - Malaysia: update 19990725.1248 Dengue/DHF - Singapore: Summary for 1998 19990227.0273 1998 ---- Dengue - Malaysia (Petaling Jaya) 19980811.1575 Dengue - Malaysia (Sarawak) 19980307.0435 Dengue - Malaysia (Sarawak) (02) 19980806.1514 Dengue - Singapore 19980704.1241 Dengue/DHF - Malaysia (Perak) 19980916.1857 Dengue/DHF - Malaysia (Sarawak) 19980714.1327 Dengue/DHF - Malaysia: 1997 19980415.0689 Dengue/DHF - Singapore 19980513.0941 Dengue/DHF - Singapore (03) 19981121.2243 Dengue, imported - Taiwan 19980711.1313 Dengue, imported - Taiwan ex S.E. Asia 19980805.1503 Dengue, indigenous - Taiwan 19980828.1716 Dengue/DHF, imported - Taiwan ex Thailand 19980828.1714] ............mpp/cp/pg/lm *##########################################################* ProMED-mail makes every effort to verify the reports that are posted, but the accuracy and completeness of the information, and of any statements or opinions based thereon, are not guaranteed. The reader assumes all risks in using information posted or archived by ProMED-mail. ISID and its associated service providers shall not be held responsible for errors or omissions or held liable for any damages incurred as a result of use or reliance upon posted or archived material. ************************************************************ Visit ProMED-mail's web site at <http://www.promedmail.org>. Send all items for posting to: promed@promedmail.org (NOT to an individual moderator). If you do not give your full name and affiliation, it may not be posted. 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