Chen Chun-yi, who runs a skin clinic, told reporters that the number of patients he and his colleagues have treated in the past few days has increased 30 percent, with most of them suffering from infections as a result of either sunburn or mosquito and other insect bites sustained during their tomb sweeping trips.

According to Chen, these patients have told him that they swept their ancestors' tombs ahead of the April 5 Tomb Sweeping Day because they wanted to avoid the traffic congestion over the long weekend.

Failing to protect themselves against insects and the sun, many of them contracted acute skin infections, developed rashes all over their bodies and suffered from headaches, breathing difficulty, perspiration and localized lymphadenitis.

Chen said that April is the month when mosquitos and other insects thrive, and that tomb sweepers should wear a pair of light colored trousers and a jacket to guard against stings from mosquitos and rove beetles, plus a hat to shield themselves from direct exposure to the sun.