CDC warns travelers to be on the alert against dengue fever

"The 90 imported cases of dengue fever reported in Taiwan indicate a dramatic escalation of the mosquito- borne disease in recent years," CDC spokesman Lin Ting said.

The number of imported dengue fever cases would likely reach a peak in August, the CDC said.

Citing the World Health Organization's June 15 statistics on dengue fever, the CDC said that Malaysia had reported 21,707 cases, including 54 deaths. In Vietnam, the number had reached 16,555 cases, 14 of which were fatal, while in the Philippines, 6,537 cases, including 62 fatalities, had been reported.

In light of these statistics, the CDC said, travelers to those areas are advised to take precautions to avoid mosquito bites.

The 90 imported cases of dengue fever recorded in Taiwan so far this year represent a steep rise compared to the same period last year when 64 cases were confirmed, the CDC's statistics show.

According to the data, 46 of the cases were contracted in Indonesia, 22 were imported from Vietnam, 6 from Thailand, 5 from Cambodia, 4 from the Philippines and two each from Myanmar and Singapore.

Dengue fever is transmitted by mosquitoes infected with the dengue virus. Symptoms of the disease include fever, abdominal pain, vomiting and bleeding.

More information on dengue fever is available at the CDC's Web site at http://www.cdc.gov.tw, or via its 1922 toll-free hotline.

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