[Epidemic dengue 2 on Liouchyou Shiang, Pingtung County in 1981]

During the summer of 1981, an outbreak of dengue occurred on Liouchyou Shiang, an islet about 15 km. southwest of Taiwan. More than 12, 500 people, approximately 80% of the inhabitants, were estimated to be affected in this epidemic which had been the first dengue outbreak in Taiwan since 1945. Neither shock nor fatal case was found. The epidemic subsided in October and there was no confirmed dengue case in Taiwan from 1982 to 1985. All the 21 virus strains isolated from the blood of patients were now identified as type 2 dengue virus and believed to be the first isolation in Taiwan. The pathogen was probably introduced from the Philippines.