Taiwan's dengue fever deaths exceed 100

A total of 106 dengue fever related deaths were reported by Taiwan's center for disease control Wednesday morning, with the number of infectious cases reaching 23,821 since the start of May.

Tainan city recorded 90 deaths and neighboring Kaohsiung saw 14 deaths. Southernmost Pingtung County also reported two dengue deaths.

Of the fatalities, 28 are suspected deaths that are to be reviewed for confirmation. Another 47 patients are in intensive care.

The median age of the deceased patients is 77 years old, and elderly people with chronic diseases have the highest risk, the center said.

As of Tuesday, 19,621 infectious cases were reported in Tainan and 3,796 in Kaohsiung, according to latest figures.

The center said 21,260 patients recovered and were dismissed from the hospital as of 9 p.m. on Tuesday.

Health authorities have called on residents to step up efforts to make sure their homes are clean and dry in the fight against the most serious dengue outbreak in years.

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.