On December 19, 2013, the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) announced one new case of enterovirus 71 infection with severe complications. The case is a four-year-old boy who resides in central Taiwan. On December 9, he developed fever, oral ulcer, and blisters on the hands and feet. He then sought medical attention and was diagnosed with enterovirus infection. Subsequently, he developed symptoms associated with enterovirus complications such as frequent myoclonic jerk and unsteady gait and sought further medical attention at a large hospital. He was then hospitalized for further treatment. As of now, the case has recovered and been discharged from the hospital. According to the epidemiological investigation, before the case developed his illness, another child attending the same kindergarten had experienced enterovirus symptoms. As a result, the case might have become infected with enterovirus at his kindergarten. Hence, Taiwan CDC advises the public, especially households with infants and children, to take measures to ward off infection, including washing hands thoroughly and maintaining personal hygiene.

Enterovirus is active in Taiwan throughout the year. Every year, the epidemic season occurs from April to September. Nevertheless, enterovirus remains active in the winter. According to Taiwan CDC’s surveillance data, coxsackie A virus and enterovirus 71 continue to circulate in the community. The public is reminded to stay vigilant against the virus. Thus far this year, as of December 17, a cumulative total of 10 cases of enterovirus infection with severe complications have been confirmed, including 6 cases of EV71 and 3 cases of CA6 that recovered and 1 case of Echo30 in a newborn that died.

Taiwan CDC once again reminds the public that infants and children aged below 5 are at increased risk of developing enterovirus infection with severe complications. As enterovirus is highly contagious and the risk of transmission is higher at home and school, including kindergarten, child care centers and student care centers, Taiwan CDC urges both adults and children should develop good personal hygiene habits such as washing hands properly, seeking medical attention immediately when sick, and resting at home when sick in order to reduce the risk of disease transmission. Parents are advised not to bring sick children to crowded public places to reduce the risk of enterovirus transmission. Child care facilities are advised to reinforce the importance of frequent hand washing and good hand washing technique for all children, and clean and disinfect the environment regularly.

Taiwan CDC once again warns when a child in a household is diagnosed with enterovirus infection, parents and child caregivers are urged to refrain the sick child from close contact with other children to prevent further spread of the disease and pay close attention to the symptoms of the sick child. Once the sick child develops suspected symptoms such as drowsiness, disturbed consciousness, inactivity, flaccid paralysis, myoclonic jerk, continuous vomiting, tachypnea, and tachycardia, please take the child to a large hospital immediately in order to ensure prompt treatment. For more information on enterovirus, please visit the Taiwan CDC’s website at http://www.cdc.gov.tw or call the toll-free Communicable Disease Reporting and Care Hotline, 1922, or 0800-001922 if calling from a cell phone.