Tokyo dengue fever cases hit 22 cumulatively; Tourism Bureau urges travelers to take extra precautions

Reported by You T-Ru / Taipei

Travelers heading to Japan, please note: The Tourism Bureau issued a dengue fever alert for Tokyo today (4th)! The dengue fever outbreak continues, with 19 new cases reported in Tokyo Metropolis, Wako City, Chiba City, Saitama City, Narita City, and Matsudo City. To date, the total number of cases has reached 22. The onset dates range from August 16 to 28, and all affected individuals had visited or were near Yoyogi Park in Tokyo, with most having been bitten by mosquitoes.


▲ Illustration of Tokyo. (Photo / Reporter Hong Shengyi)

Dengue fever infections vary by individual constitution—some may experience only mild symptoms or none at all. Typical dengue fever symptoms include sudden high fever (≥38°C), headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle pain, joint pain, and rashes. However, if someone is infected with different serotypes of the dengue virus sequentially, there is a higher risk of developing "dengue hemorrhagic fever." In addition to the typical dengue symptoms, dengue hemorrhagic fever also presents with noticeable bleeding tendencies. Without prompt medical attention or treatment, the fatality rate can be as high as 50%.

The Tourism Bureau advises travelers planning to visit the aforementioned areas in Japan to take note of the following precautions:
1. When traveling to, visiting family, or conducting business in high-risk dengue fever areas, ensure you take proper personal mosquito prevention measures. Apply mosquito repellent approved by the Ministry of Health and Welfare to exposed skin, and wear light-colored long-sleeved shirts and pants whenever possible to avoid bites from disease-carrying mosquitoes.
2. If you develop symptoms such as fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, muscle pain, rashes, or joint pain during your trip or after returning home, seek medical attention immediately and inform the doctor of your travel history to facilitate early diagnosis and treatment.

For more information, please visit the CDC’s official website ( http://www.cdc.gov.tw ), or call the public epidemic reporting and consultation hotline at 1922. If your phone cannot dial short-code numbers, please call the epidemic prevention hotline at 0800-001922 instead.