In light of continuous occurrence of measles and rubella outbreaks around the world, the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) confirmed three new measles cases on May 28, 2015. They respectively are a 31-year-old female, a 28-yaer-old male, and a 27-year-old male who all work at the same duty free shop as the previously confirmed clustered cases. Potential contacts are urged to conduct an 18-day self-health management. If symptoms such as fever, fatigue, generalized irregular papules develop, please put on a mask immediately, seek prompt medical attention and voluntarily notify the physician of relevant exposure history. As of a now, a total of 10 measles cases associated with the cluster have been confirmed. The health authority has identified a total 0f 1,930 contacts of the 10 cases. 1,556 of the contacts have been followed up and 374 of them are being followed up. In addition, 681 employees working at the same shop have received catch-up MMR vaccination and the others would also be urged to receive the same catch-up vaccination as an attempt to minimize the number of people who might develop the disease.

Thus far this year, a total of 11 indigenous measles case (10 were clustered cases who work at the same place) and 1 imported measles case from China have been confirmed in Taiwan. During the same period last year, 15 measles cases were confirmed, including 2 indigenous cases and 13 imported cases. According to global surveillance data, a cumulative total of 35,000 measles cases have been confirmed worldwide and the majority of the cases, approximately 80%, were confirmed in the Western Pacific and Africa, followed by cases in Europe. The outbreak in China seems to be on the rise. During January and April, 2015, a cumulative total of 22,700 mealses cases have been confirmed in China. A large-scale outbreak occurred in Mongolia in March. Thus far this year, imported cases have been reported in Vancouver, Canada and Japan. Besides the occurrence of large-scale outbreaks in Germany and France, several other countries in Europe have also reported measles cases. Hence, Taiwan CDC has issued a travel notice of Level 1: Watch for measles to China, the Philippines, Vietnam and Germany.

Taiwan CDC urges the public to stay vigilant for measles, pay attention to personal hygiene, wash hands frequently, avoid touching mouth and nose, and wearing a mask when visiting crowded places in order to ward off infection. Vaccination remains the best way to prevent measles. In Taiwan, the existing routine childhood vaccination schedule recommends a dose of MMR vaccine to children 12 months of age and another dose to first graders in elementary schools. Unvaccinated infants and children, those who do not receive vaccine in a timely manner and those who have never been infected with measles are high-risk groups. Parents are urged to ensure timely vaccination of children under one year old and those who have not completed the MMR vaccine series and avoid bringing unvaccinated children to the affected areas in order to prevent infection. Travelers planning to visit affected areas are advised to visit the outpatient travel clinic at 26 contracted hospitals in the nation to determine the need for MMR vaccination 2 to 4 weeks prior to their trip. If symptoms pertaining to measels infection such as fever, fatigue, nasopharyngitis and obviously swollen lymph nodes behind the ears, and generalized irregular papules, joint pain or arthritis develop after returning to Taiwan from affected areas, please put on a mask, seek immediate medical attention, and voluntarily inform the physician of relevant travel and exposure history. For more information, please visit the Taiwan CDC website at http://www.cdc.gov.tw or call the toll-free Communicable Disease Reporting and Consultation Hotline, 1922 (or 0800-001922).