Kaohsiung: Taiwan’s first local dengue fever cases this year were reported during the week of August 19-25, involving a cluster of four individuals residing in Kaohsiung, as announced by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) on Tuesday.

According to Focus Taiwan, the initial case involved a man in his 50s who began experiencing symptoms such as headaches, nausea, and loss of appetite on August 23. He sought medical treatment the following day and tested positive for type two dengue fever. Following investigations, two family members residing with him and a neighbor were also confirmed to have type two dengue fever.

The CDC reported that the local health bureau has initiated testing for 101 potential contacts. In a routine press conference, CDC spokesperson Tseng Shu-hui stated that the agency’s regional management center is collaborating with the local government to mitigate the risk of an epidemic. The local government has established a command center to oversee disease prevention efforts in the area.

Tseng noted that these initial cases appeared later in the year compared to the past decade, though this does not necessarily predict the severity of the outbreak. Factors such as rainfall and temperature play a crucial role in the spread of dengue fever. Last year’s severe global outbreak, coupled with current high temperatures and heavy rainfall, has heightened the risk of the disease spreading due to favorable conditions for vector mosquitoes.

The CDC has advised the public to remain vigilant, especially given the ongoing severe outbreak in neighboring Southeast Asian countries. Travelers are encouraged to take anti-mosquito precautions, and individuals exhibiting symptoms like fever, headache, sore muscles or joints, and rashes upon arrival in Taiwan are urged to inform airport quarantine personnel.

Regarding chikungunya fever, Tseng reported two additional imported cases during the week of August 19-25, both originating from the Philippines. As of August 25, the CDC has documented 19 imported cases in 2025, the highest number for this period in six years. These include 13 cases from Indonesia, four from the Philippines, and one each from Sri Lanka and China.