Dengue fever cases surge in southern Taiwan

The number of dengue fever cases recorded in Taiwan surged by several hundred over the weekend, raising concern among health officials as the typical fall outbreak period neared.

At an emergency meeting convened by the Tainan city government over the weekend, experts warned the situation might quickly worsen if the government failed to halt the fast-spreading illness.

Since May, 5,948 cases of dengue have been reported, with about 90 percent in the southern city of Tainan, the island's health authorities said on Monday.