Taipei, Sept. 27 (CNA) The number of dengue fever cases since the start of the summer has increased to 17,112, with 98.39 percent occurring in Tainan and Kaohsiung, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said on Sunday.
As of Saturday, 14,811 cases had been reported in Tainan, accounting for 86.55 percent of the total, an increase of 366 cases from the previous day, the CDC said.
Kaohsiung has had 2,025 cases, or 11.83 percent of the total, an increase of 73 cases from a day earlier.
Other cities and counties have had far fewer cases, with Pingtung reporting 64, New Taipei 36, Taichung 35, Taipei 29, Taoyuan 26, Chiayi County 16, Hsinchu County 12 and Chiayi City 11.
Other areas have reported only single digit cases, except outlying Lienchiang County (Matsu), which has had no reports of dengue fever.
Forty-two people have died of the disease since May, with the cause of death in an additional 42 cases as yet undetermined, the CDC said.
Of the 17,112 cases recorded, 13,480, or 78.78 percent, have recovered from the mosquito-borne disease, according to the CDC.
The disparity in the occurrence of cases is being attributed to different species of mosquitoes in southern and northern Taiwan. In addition, the medical profession and members of the public are familiar with dengue fever symptoms which means a full blown national outbreak is unlikely, CDC Deputy Director-General Chuang Jen-hsiang (莊人祥) said on Sunday.
The spike in dengue fever cases is unlikely to ease until January, by which time the total number of cases could reach 30,000-37,000, Chuang said on Sept. 17.
In the southern municipality of Tainan, 4,393 cases have been reported in North District, 2,469 in West Central District, 2,330 in South District, 1,645 in Yongkang District, 1,451 in East District and 1,174 in Annan District, according to Tainan City Government's Health Department.
Only one of Tainan's 37 districts has reported no cases-- Beimen -- the Health Department said.
In 2014, Taiwan reported 15,732 dengue fever cases, the highest annual number since the authorities began keeping records, while the number of cases in Kaohsiung reached nearly 15,000, with 20 fatalities.
(By Chen Wei-ting, Chang Jung-hsiang and Kuo Chung-han)
Enditem/ AW