Taipei, Oct 14 (IANS): A total of 106 people have died because of dengue in Taiwan, while 23,821 have been infected since May this year, authorities said on Wednesday.

Tainan city recorded 90 deaths and neighbouring Kaohsiung saw 14 deaths. Southernmost Pingtung County also reported two dengue deaths, Xinhua reported.

The median age of the dead patients is 77 years old, and elderly people with chronic diseases have the highest risk, according to Taiwan's centre for disease control.

As of Tuesday, 19,621 infectious cases were reported in Tainan and 3,796 in Kaohsiung, according to latest figures.

Officials said 21,260 patients recovered and were dismissed from the hospital till Tuesday.

Health authorities have called on residents to step up efforts to make sure their homes are clean and dry in the fight against the most serious dengue outbreak in years.

Dengue is a mosquito-borne, potentially fatal disease that mainly affects people in tropical and subtropical regions, causing fever, nausea and muscle and joint aches.