The Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) announced an indigenous cluster of measles cases in an uncle and his newphew living together in Taipei City. The 33-year-old uncle developed symptoms of fever, cough, sore throat, conjunctivitis and rash. He received medical treatment three times. He was previously diagnosed cold. During his third medical treatment, he was reported as a suspected case of measles by the hospital. On June 8, 2010, he was confirmed as an indigenous measles case by Taiwan CDC. On the same day, the case’s close contact, his 7-month-old nephew was given an intramuscular immunoglobulin (IMIG) shot as a precaution. Nevertheless, by then, the baby had been exposed to the infection for six days and had also developed typical symptoms. Taiwan CDC determined measles infection in the baby. Currently, the Taipei City Health Bureau has tracked down 102 related contacts with these two cases. None of them were found to exhibit any suspicious symptoms of infection yet, and they will be continuously monitored and tracked.
According to the surveillance data compiled by Taiwan CDC, a total of 74 measles cases have been confirmed in Taiwan from 2007 to 2009, respectively 10, 16 and 48 cases. Compared to the 47 cases reported during the same period last year, 9 cases have been thus far confirmed this year since June 17. Nevertheless, Taiwan CDC continues to remain vigilant. This year, an epidemic of measles has occurred in several countries, including Mainland China, Singapore, the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, the United Kingdom, Bulgaria, and more. The World Health Organization pointed out at the World Health Assembly held in May this year that the epidemic of measles has occurred in more than 30 African countries since 2009, which caused at least 64,000 infected and 1,100 dead.
Measles is highly contagious, and vaccination is the most effective way to prevent the disease. In Taiwan, the existing routine childhood vaccination schedule recommends a dose of MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine to 12-month-old children and first graders. In spite of having a high nationwide immunization rate of 98.13% and a high overall immunization rate of 97.2% in Taipei City, the surveillance data from past years indicates all unvaccinated infants and young kids and a minority of the unvaccinated or the non-infected are all at high risk of infection. Meanwhile, the ongoing epidemics of measles in neighboring Mainland China, Southeast Asia pose additional threat to the high-risk groups.
Over the recent years, the measles eradication program has been actively promoted in Taiwan.In addition, high levels of immunization have been maintained for years and the number of measles cases has substantially decreased. Nevertheless, clinicians might not detect and report suspected cases in time due to the lack of vigilance that consequently delays effectiveness of prevention and treatment. Taiwan CDC calls on the public to seek immediate seek medical advice if symptoms such as fever, rhinitis, conjunctivitis and rash appear.
Clinicians have been also urged to be alert to any suspected measles cases, which should be reported as soon as detected to help health authorities take timely actions that stop the epidemic from spreading further. For any related inquiries, please visit the Taiwan CDC’s website at: http://www.cdc.gov.tw, or call the toll-free Communicable Disease Reporting and Consultation Hotline 1922.