Dengue Fever Cluster Outbreak at Kaohsiung Minsheng Hospital; Over 1,000 Screened, All Negative

Central News Agency reporter Lin Chiao-Lien, Kaohsiung, June 13

A dengue fever cluster outbreak has occurred at Kaohsiung Minsheng Hospital, with five hospitalized patients confirmed with locally transmitted dengue fever. The Kaohsiung City Health Bureau announced that 1,009 individuals have been tested, with all results coming back negative. Additionally, three female mosquitoes captured within the hospital premises tested negative for dengue virus.

In a press release today, the Kaohsiung City Government Health Bureau stated that the city's epidemic prevention team remains on high alert, continuing to prevent the spread of infection into the community at the highest level of response. The primary prevention strategy focuses on identifying high-risk contacts, expanding quarantine and screening efforts, and tracing potential transmission chains.

Epidemiological investigations and testing have been conducted on all currently hospitalized patients and hospital staff, totaling 774 individuals, all of whom have tested negative. Furthermore, follow-up testing has been arranged for discharged patients and their accompanying family members, with 235 individuals already tested, all results negative. Combined, a total of 1,009 individuals have been tested, with all results negative to date.

The Health Bureau explained that mosquito surveillance and control operations have been activated both within the hospital and its surrounding areas. Three female mosquitoes were captured on June 12 using an epidemic prevention mosquito trap installed by the hospital. These were sent to the National Mosquito-Borne Diseases Control Center at the National Health Research Institutes, where dengue testing returned negative results.

The Health Bureau emphasized that although no positive cases have been found in expanded contact screening or mosquito testing, the city's epidemic prevention team remains vigilant. They will continue dynamic risk assessments and closely monitor potential transmission risks both inside and outside the hospital, as well as in surrounding communities.

Additionally, the prevention team identified 35 positive breeding containers today, mostly common types of breeding sites found in communities, indicating that mosquito breeding risks still exist in the environment. The Health Bureau stressed that eliminating breeding sources is the most fundamental and effective measure in dengue prevention, urging the public to diligently practice the 'inspect, dump, clean, and scrub' routine.

In response to this cluster outbreak, Lin Ming-Cheng, Deputy Director-General of the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (CDC), traveled to Kaohsiung to assist. In addition to providing various forms of support, the CDC has dispatched a mobile epidemic prevention team to assist Kaohsiung in evaluating prevention effectiveness and assessing risks in surrounding communities. The team is also helping the Health Bureau inspect and identify high-risk community locations and zones to facilitate future community mobilization for breeding source removal.

The Health Bureau emphasized that dengue fever season has arrived. Residents experiencing symptoms such as fever, headache, retro-orbital pain, muscle and joint aches, or rash should seek medical attention promptly and proactively inform physicians of their TOCC history—travel history, occupation, contact history, and cluster exposure—to enable early diagnosis, reporting, and prevention, collectively safeguarding personal and community health and safety. (Edited by Li Heng-Shan) 1150613