A male athlete from the Philippines participating at the 2017 Taipei Universiade was diagnosed with dengue fever on August 20 and has been treated in hospital in isolation since.
Last Sunday, the Department of Health of Taipei City Government learned from the Athlete’s Village clinic that the Filipino, whose name remains unrevealed, was suspected of suffering from dengue fever, The Real Daily reported, citing a media statement by Taiwanese health authorities issued on Thursday.
The athlete was reportedly feeling unwell upon his arrival in Taiwan on August 18, with typical symptoms of the disease including fever, muscle pain, headache and eye pain surfacing on August 19.
He was then transferred to Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital on the same day, where laboratory results on August 20 confirmed dengue fever. It was the athlete’s second infection.
He reportedly remains conscious and is recovering under intensive care in an isolated ward.
Taiwan authorities say they will continue to monitor the health of the 176 people in the Filipino delegation, and nine other people who had contact with the patient in the Athlete’s Village. As of the day of the report, no one had been reported unwell or showed any symptoms of the mosquito-borne disease.
Enhanced anti-mosquito measures were conducted for the prevention of dengue fever in the Athlete’s Village and all competition venues.