Kaohsiung health bureau fines Vietnamese mother‑daughter for hidden travel history after dengue diagnosis

A Vietnamese mother and her daughter returned to Kaohsiung, Taiwan, from a visit to Vietnam and were later confirmed positive for dengue fever. The mother fell ill on July 26 and was diagnosed on July 31; the daughter developed symptoms on July 28 and was diagnosed on August 1 after the mother’s case prompted contact tracing. Both patients failed to disclose their recent travel history when seeking medical care, hindering the public‑health investigation.

The Kaohsiung City Health Bureau fined the pair NT$10,000 each under the Infectious Disease Control Act for providing false or incomplete information. Both remain hospitalized under mosquito‑prevention isolation. Health officials have conducted vector‑control measures at the family’s residence, including emergency insecticide spraying and removal of breeding sites, after surveys showed a high density of Aedes mosquitoes in the Jiaxian district.