According to the surveillance data compiled by the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC), enterovirus activity has been on a steady decline and the number of enterovirus infection with complication has also decreased significantly. Nevertheless, enterovirus 71 activity continues to persist. As schools at all levels are reopening, increased interaction among schoolchildren will likely increase the transmission of enterovirus at home and at school. Hence, Taiwan CDC advises school teachers, childcare center personnel, parents, and schoolchildren to pay attention to personal hygiene and wash hands frequently to effectively decrease the chance of enterovirus infection. Both adults and children should develop good personal hygiene habits, including seeking medical attention immediately when sick, resting at home when sick, and avoiding contact with infants and young children and visiting crowded places when sick in order to reduce the risk of disease transmission and risk of developing complications and ensure prompt recovery.

Taiwan CDC announced one new case of enterovirus 71 infection with severe complications. The case is a ten-month-old girl who resides in northern Taiwan. In late August, when she developed symptoms pertaining to enterovirus infection, including fever, oral ulcer, and rashes on limbs, she was brought to a clinic for medical attention. Later, when she developed myoclonic jerk, which is a prodromal sign of complications, she was rushed to a large hospital for further medical attention. After receiving appropriate medical treatment, she has been discharged. An older child residing in the same household with the case developed symptoms pertaining to enterovirus infection before the case experienced the symptoms and passed the infection to another child who resides in the same household. Fortunately, both children have only experienced mild symptoms and both have recovered. As of September 10, a cumulative total of 144 cases of enterovirus infection with severe complications have been reported this year. Of the cases, 141 were infected with enterovirus 71, including two deaths.

Infants and children aged below 5 are at increased risk of developing enterovirus infection with severe complications. Therefore, when a child below 5 years of age in a household is diagnosed with enterovirus infection, parents and child caregivers are urged to 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 call the toll-free Communicable Disease Reporting and Consultation Hotline, 1922, or  0800-024582 if calling from a cell phone, or visit the Taiwan CDC’s website at http://www.cdc.gov.tw.