Taoyuan City to Impose Fines Up to NT$15,000 for Stagnant Water Starting June

Central News Agency, Taoyuan, May 26. The Taoyuan City Health Bureau announced today that to prevent the spread of dengue fever, starting June 1, residents who fail to proactively clear stagnant water containers or areas, resulting in the breeding of mosquito larvae, will be fined between NT$3,000 and NT$15,000 in accordance with the Communicable Disease Control Act. The Health Bureau stated that as of May 25 this year, there have been 64 confirmed cases of dengue fever in Taiwan, with travel histories primarily involving Indonesia (19 cases) and the Maldives (14 cases). Taoyuan City has recorded 9 imported cases, mostly linked to the Philippines (3 cases) and Vietnam (2 cases). The Bureau noted that local cases have already appeared in the south last week, indicating an increased risk of community transmission. The city has announced the 'Taoyuan City Vector Breeding Prevention and Dengue, Chikungunya, and Zika Virus Control Measures,' effective from June 1 to October 31. The Bureau reminded the public that dengue is primarily transmitted by Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes. These vectors often breed in flowerpot trays, buckets, discarded tires, and garden water barrels. Failure to clear water after rain leads to rapid breeding. The Bureau urges citizens to practice 'Inspect, Dump, Clean, and Scrub,' regularly checking their surroundings and clearing containers after rain. Travelers returning from abroad should undergo 14 days of self-health monitoring and visit designated medical institutions in Taoyuan offering NS1 rapid testing if symptoms arise. Information is available on the Health Bureau's website. (Edited by Li Heng-shan)