On January 29, 2015, the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) announced this year’s first rubella (German measles) case in a 41-year-old male who resides in northern Taiwan. On January 16, he sought medical attention at a clinic after developing fever and cough. On December 21, he developed cough, runny nose, fever, rash and conjunctivitis. On the next day, he sought further medical attention at a medical center and was isolated for medical treatment. Later, rubella infection was confirmed in the case. Currently, the case has been removed from isolation. Since the case had not recently traveled overseas, Taiwan CDC determined the case to be an indigenous case. The possible source of infection is still being investigated.

To prevent further transmission of the disease, the health authorities has implemented a number of prevention measures and identified 121 contacts, including his family members, colleagues, and healthcare personnel and patients that he came into contact with when he sought medical attention, to monitor and follow up until February 18. Currently, besides the case’s wife who developed cough, none of the other contacts has developed any suspected symptoms. In addition, rubella infection has been eliminated from the case’s wife.

Last year, a total of 7 rubella cases were confirmed in Taiwan. Among the confirmed cases, 2 became infected in China, 1 became infected in the Philippines, 1 became infected in Indonesia, 1 became infected in Malaysia, 1 became infected in South Africa, and 1 became infected in Taiwan. Most infected individuals experience mild symptoms. However, in pregnant women, rubella can cause death or birth defects such as cataracts, deafness, glaucoma, and heart, lung and brain abnormalities in an unborn baby (fetus) during the first few months of pregnancy. Therefore, pregnant women who are tested negative for rubella antibody are advised against traveling to areas affected by rubella and urged to receive one free dose of MMR (Measles, Mumps, and Rubella) vaccine at local health centers or contracted hospitals in the nation.

Rubella is a highly contagious disease. People who are infected with rubella are infectious from 1 week before to at least 4 days after the rash appears. It is transmitted through airborne droplet or close contact with the patient, but it is vaccine-preventable. If symptoms pertaining to rubella infection such as fever, fatigue, nasopharyngitis and obviously swollen lymph nodes behind the ears develop and are accompanied by generalized irregular papules, joint pain or arthritis, 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).