DENGUE/DHF UPDATES (46): 26 NOV 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] Taiwan [2] Panama: DHF case [3] Brazil (Sao Paulo): type 3 ****** [1] Date: Tue 19 Nov 2002 From: ProMED-mail <promed@promedmail.org> Source: Reuters Health eLine, Tue 19 Nov 2002 [edited] <http://www.reutershealth.com/archive/2002/11/19/eline/links/20021119elin027 .htm l> Taiwan: Military Called In to Battle Dengue Fever ------------------------------------------------- The Taiwan government will call in the military to help deal with an epidemic of dengue fever that is the island nation's worst since World War II, public health officials said on Mon 18 Nov 2002. As of Monday, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) [Taiwan] has reported 4464 confirmed cases of dengue fever, a mosquito-borne viral disease. Among them, there were 121 cases of dengue hemorrhagic fever, a potentially fatal complication, and 13 deaths. The outbreak this year has broken the 1988 record, when 4389 confirmed cases were reported. In terms of dengue hemorrhagic fever, both the number of confirmed cases and the number of deaths exceeded the sums of those in the last 14 years, the CDC [Taiwan]reports. About 98 percent of confirmed cases this year were reported from 3 jurisdictions in southern Taiwan, according to the CDC [Taiwan]. In Kaohsiung City, Taiwan's second largest city, 2305 cases have been reported. In the city's adjacent jurisdictions, Kaohsiung County and Pingtung County, 1818 cases and 233 cases had been reported, respectively, as of Mon 18 Nov 2002. To further monitor the spread of the disease, CDC [Taiwan] officials convened an emergency meeting in southern Taiwan on Monday, raising the alarm levels in Pingtung County, whose population is about 900 000. In the last 5 weeks, according to the CDC [Taiwan], the number of confirmed cases of dengue fever in this agricultural county has doubled. Even the number of suspected cases has been increasing sharply in the last few weeks. "At the meeting, we have integrated assistance from soldiers, private pest control companies, and local authorities. Effective prevention and control measures will be carried out as soon as possible," Ying-lung Chiang, spokesman for the CDC [Taiwan]under the Cabinet's Department of Health, told Reuters Health on Mon 18 Nov 2002. The hardest-hit parts of the county are Tungkang, a fishing port that is home to 50 000 residents, and densely populated Pingtung City, with a population of about 215 000. Chiang said that both manpower and equipment would be available to the county from not only the military but also other local authorities, such as the Taipei City Government. Beginning Tuesday, in Tungkang, volunteers and local officials will apply pesticides and promote public participation in controlling the insect responsible for spreading the disease, the _Aedes aegypti_ mosquito. On Thursday, Chiang said, soldiers will carry out similar tasks in Pingtung City. "At least 150 soldiers will be available to help the local government out," Chiang told Reuters Health. In addition, disinfecting empty buildings and unoccupied apartments in Pingtung County to wipe out breeding sites of the mosquito would be one of main tasks, Chiang said. Meanwhile, the situation in Kaohsiung County and Kaohsiung City has been brought somewhat under control by public participation and local government efforts, Chiang said. Residents in the 3 jurisdictions in southern Taiwan, however, are strongly encouraged to cooperate with government officials to continue clearing stagnant water in their homes and surrounding areas. Chiang attributed the record-breaking outbreak this year to changes in weather patterns, including higher temperatures and abundant rainfall. CDC [Taiwan] officials estimated that the number of confirmed cases resulting from the outbreak this year will exceed 5000 and the rise would not stop until early next year. Dengue fever broke out in Taiwan island-wide in 1915, 1931, and 1942 when Japan occupied the nation. After World War II, the infection did not reappear until the early 1980s. [Byline: Yu-Tzu Chiu] ****** [2] Date: Sat 23 Nov 2002 From: Pablo Nart <p.nart@virgin.net> Source: Xinhua News Agency (via COMTEX), Thu 21 Nov 2002 [edited] Panama: Third Case of Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever Reported in 2002 -------------------------------------------------- Panamanian Health Minister Fernando Gracia confirmed on Thu 21 Nov 2002 the third case of dengue hemorrhagic fever in the country this year. Gracia said the patient was a 31-year-old woman from Arraijan district. Her current situation was reported stable with a satisfactory clinical assessment. The 2 other cases reported in 2002 were in February and October [2002], in Tocumen municipality and the San Miguelito district, respectively. During the same period of last year, authorities reported 7 hemorrhagic dengue cases. The newly detected mosquito species, _Aedes albopictus_, is capable of becoming a vector for both yellow fever and dengue hemorrhagic fever. This insect is believed to be capable of carrying [all] 4 types of dengue [fever virus], & [more] resistant to insecticides, making it more dangerous than _Aedes aegypti_, the [usual] vector [of dengue fever virus]. ***** [3] Date: 25 Nov 2002 From: Marilda Milagres <milagres@fclnet.com.br> Source: Folha da Regiao 21 Nov 2002 [edited] <http://www.folhadaregiao.com.br/> [Translated & summarized by Mod.JW] Dengue type 3 is in wide circulation in townships in the region of Aracatuba, Sao Paulo state, together with types 1 & 2. Since the beginning of 2002, the Regional Directorate of Health had registered 1984 cases of dengue in 25 townships. Those with the largest numbers of cases were Aracatuba (824), Birigui (782), Andradina (178) & Guararapes (53). -- ProMED-mail <promed@promedmail.org> [see also: _Aedes albopictus_ - Panama 20021108.5753 Dengue/DHF updates (01): 14 Jan 2002 20020115.3265 Dengue/DHF updates (37): 23 Sep 2002 20020923.5384 Dengue/DHF updates (37): 23 Sep 2002: correction 20020923.5386 Dengue/DHF updates (43): 04 Nov 2002 20021104.5713 Dengue/DHF updates (45): 18 Nov 2002 20021118.5841 2001 ---- Dengue/DHF updates (01): 8 Jan 2001 20010108.0064 Dengue/DHF updates (21): 18 Dec 2001 20011218.3058 Dengue/DHF - Panama 20010804.1524 Dengue/DHF - Panama (02) 20011110.2782 Dengue - Brazil 20011018.2566 2000 ----- Dengue - Paraguay, Brazil (Parana) 20000327.0441 .............................mpp/cp/pg/jw *##########################################################* * * * Please support the 2002 ProMED-mail Internet-a-thon! * * http://www.isid.org/netathon2002.shtml * * * ************************************************************ 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. 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