台灣地區可能因受全球溫室效應的影響,氣候溫暖化,三十年來年平均溫升高0.2~0.9℃;冬季月平均溫升高0.9~3.0℃,冬季月平均低溫升高1.5~4.0℃,而呈暖冬現象。氣候之變遷,已改變登革熱病媒紋的媒病潛能,且埃及斑紋、白線斑紋兩種病媒之密度有逐年提升,分布地點有逐漸擴展、活動季節有逐漸延長之現象。因此,導效1994、1995年登革熱之異常流行。台灣之登革熱自1988年爆發之後,每三年一次小流行,且本上病例多侷限於高屏縣市。流行季節亦多於十一月寒流來襲後歇止。1994年登革熱向北延伸到台南市,並持續流行到1995年元月。199三年登革熱更在北部、中部發生,而十二月底仍有感染病例報告。
The climate in Taiwan is getting warm, possibly a result of the global greenhouse effect. During the last 30 years, the yearly mean air temperature has risen 0.2~0.9℃. Specifically, the monthly mean air temperature in winter has risen 0.9~3.0℃, and the monthly mean minimal temperature has risen 1.5~4.0℃, resulting in warm winters. This warming trend affects the infection potential of dengue vectors. Aedes albopictus has now become an important vector in the northern and central parts of Taiwan. Both Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus have been increasing in density and in area of distribution yearly. In the meanwhile, their activity season has also lengthened. This had led to abnormal epidemics of dengue in 1994 and 1995. Since the outbreak of dengue in 1988, limited epidemics have occurred every three years, mainly in the cities of Kaohsiung and Pingtung. They usually ended in November--the start of the cold season. However, in 1994 the occurrence of dengue extended to Tainan (north of Kaohsiung) and lasted till January 1995. The 1995 epidemic occurred farther up to northern and central Taiwan, and cases were found even at the end of December.