Outbreak News
Date: September 21, 2015
By: Robert Herriman
Robert Herriman is a microbiologist and the Editor-in-Chief ofOutbreak News Today and the Executive Editor of The Global Dispatch Follow @bactiman63
The dengue fever outbreak in Taiwan has grown by an additional 443 indigenous cases on 
Sunday, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), bringing the total tally to 13,209.
The second meeting of the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) for Dengue Outbreak occurred Friday and a multi-faceted approach in order to effectively bring the outbreak under control was discussed that would include mobilizing the military to support local governments in upscaling the implementation of the nationwide clean-up campaign of vector breeding sites.
In addition, CECC for Dengue Outbreak also announced the formation of “Vector Control Advisory Panel” consisting of 150 Pest Control Operators (PCO’s) certified by the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC).
10 to 20 members would make up one unit and each unit would work for 1 to 2 weeks to coach district and village chiefs the proper ways to clean and remove vector breeding sites in Tainan City.
The Ministry of Education (MOE) would continue to reinforce health education about dengue in schools.
The majority of this year’s dengue cases have been confirmed in Tainan City (11,462) and Kaohsiung City (1,527).
To date, a cumulative total of 25 deaths were found to be linked with dengue infection. 38 deaths, including 34 from Tainan City, and 2 each from Kaohsiung City and Pingtung County, are still waiting to be reviewed.
Robert Herriman is a microbiologist and the Editor-in-Chief ofOutbreak News Today and the Executive Editor of The Global Dispatch
Follow @bactiman63
