The Centers for Disease Control (hereafter referred to as CDC) announced on October 1, 2026 that Changhua County has added one new locally transmitted dengue case, a male in his 60s residing in Changhua City, Changhua County. Starting in late September, he gradually experienced fever, diarrhea, and general weakness. He sought medical care and returned home, but because his symptoms did not improve, he went back to the hospital. After reporting and testing, he was diagnosed with dengue fever, with detection of dengue virus serotype 1. The patient is currently receiving inpatient treatment, and close contacts currently show no suspected symptoms.
The CDC explained that during the incubation period, the case's main locations of activity were his residence in Changhua County and his workplace in another county/city, with no history of overseas travel. Investigation showed that his residence is about 110 meters from the residence of the first locally transmitted serotype 1 dengue case in Changhua County announced by the CDC on September 18. Preliminary assessment indicates a community cluster event, the first local dengue cluster in Changhua County since 2023, and further sequencing will be conducted to clarify the relationship between the two cases.
The CDC stated that health authorities have conducted vector mosquito density surveys and source elimination around the case's residence and activity areas, and have planned to set up community screening stations for expanded testing to identify potential infections. Residents nearby are urged to monitor their health, and if they develop suspected dengue symptoms, they should get tested at the community screening station and seek medical care promptly. In response to the local dengue case in Changhua County, the CDC also established a rapid response team on September 17, when the first case was confirmed, to support various control efforts in Changhua County. By September 29, the team had logged 34 person‑days conducting vector breeding site inspections, supervising chemical control, evaluating effectiveness, and re‑checking risk points, discovering 544 water‑holding containers and 70 positive containers, and issuing 21 inspection records. The public is urged to cooperate with health‑unit control measures to prevent the spread of the outbreak, and local medical facilities are asked to increase reporting vigilance.
CDC surveillance data show that nationwide, as of September 30, 2026, there have been a cumulative 178 confirmed dengue cases, including 12 locally transmitted cases—10 in Kaohsiung City and 2 in Changhua County. The remaining 166 cases were imported, primarily from Southeast and South Asian countries such as Vietnam (43 cases), Indonesia (29 cases), and the Philippines (20 cases). The total number of cases is lower than the same period in 2025 (188 cases). The global dengue situation continues, with over 2.22 million cases reported worldwide by August this year, most cases occurring in the Americas, such as Brazil. In neighboring Asian countries, Vietnam, Bangladesh, and Cambodia are experiencing rising or peak outbreaks, all higher than the same period last year; Vietnam has reported over 110,000 cases so far in 2026, Bangladesh about 37,000, and Cambodia 85,000. Malaysia and Sri Lanka also have higher case numbers than last year, though recent trends show a decline.
The CDC reminds that although the season has entered autumn, recent temperatures still favor mosquito activity and breeding. The public should implement “search, overturn, clean, and brush” (巡、倒、清、刷) to proactively eliminate breeding sites inside and outside homes, reducing vector density. When outdoors, wear light‑colored long‑sleeved clothing and use government‑approved insect repellents containing effective ingredients such as DEET, Picaridin, or IR‑3535. If fever, headache, retro‑orbital pain, muscle or joint pain, rash, or other suspected dengue symptoms appear, seek medical care promptly and inform the provider of travel history. Medical facilities should also stay vigilant, intensify questioning of patients about TOCC (travel, occupation, contact, and cluster history), and may use dengue NS1 rapid test kits to assist diagnosis and early reporting, enabling health authorities to implement control measures promptly. For dengue‑related information, visit the CDC’s global website (https://www.cdc.gov.tw) for reference, or call the toll‑free epidemic prevention hotline 1922 (0800-001922) for inquiries.
Source: Taiwan CDC
Data compiled: Sensory Management Office
