Taiwan's Tomb Sweeping Holiday: Stay Protected from Ticks and Dengue Fever

The CDC Issues Warning as the Clear and Bright Festival Approaches

As the Ching Ming Festival (Tomb Sweeping Day) approaches in Taiwan, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is urging extra caution for those planning outdoor activities. With temperatures rising, mosquito and tick activity is increasing, posing a heightened risk of contracting vector-borne diseases.

During the holiday, when many Taiwanese visit ancestral gravesites or enjoy outdoor excursions like hiking and camping, the CDC recommends taking preventative measures. These measures are crucial to protect against mosquito-borne illnesses like Dengue Fever, as well as other diseases transmitted by ticks and mites, including the disease called "恙蟲病 (Yang Chong Bing)", which refers to scrub typhus.

The CDC's surveillance data indicates that, as of March 24th, there have been 39 confirmed cases of Dengue Fever, all imported from abroad, primarily from Southeast Asia. While this is comparable to the 38 cases reported during the same period in 2024, it exceeds the numbers reported between 2021 and 2023 (ranging from 0 to 14 cases). Furthermore, there have been 9 confirmed cases of "恙蟲病 (Yang Chong Bing)", with the majority (6 cases) originating in the Hualien-Taitung region. This year's total number of "恙蟲病 (Yang Chong Bing)" cases is lower than the figures recorded during the same periods in 2021 to 2024, which ranged from 16 to 30 cases.