Dengue outbreak claims 15 lives in Taiwan

TAIPEI, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- As of Monday, Taiwan had reported more than 10,000 indigenous cases of dengue fever and a death toll of 15 since the beginning of this year, the island's disease-control agency said Tuesday.

Half of the cities and counties in Taiwan have reported dengue cases and the total number of the cases is the second highest of the same period of a year in the past decade, the agency said in a press release.

More than 37 percent of the dengue patients are aged above 60, while the youngest is less than 10 and the oldest is above 90, the statement said.

The increase of dengue cases has slowed down over the past two weeks. However, there may be a high risk of contagion next week since the weather in the island's southern part is more humid than usual and may bring out more mosquitos.

Dengue is a mosquito-borne, potentially fatal disease that mainly affects people in tropical and subtropical regions, causing fever, nausea and muscle and joint aches.