On August 2, 2011, the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) announced a new case of enterovirus 71 infection with severe complications. The case is a 4-year-old boy.On July 25, he began developing symptoms, including fever and rashes on limbs. He was diagnosed with enterovirus infection when he sought medical attention at a clinic.On July 28, when he developed prodromal signs of complications, including myoclonus and tachycardia, he was hospitalized for treatment in an intensive care unit.During hospitalization, he received intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG).On August 1, he was discharged from the intensive care unit to a general ward.

According to surveillance data collected by Taiwan CDC, the ER consultation rate for enterovirus infection has been on the rise for four consecutive weeks. The rate reached 6.83 ‰ last week and is still gradually increasing. This year, coxsackie A is the dominant enterovirus virus strain circulating in the community, making up approximately 90% of the specimen that tested positive for enterovirus.Although sporadic detections of cases of enterovirus 71 have been reported, they only make up for about 1% of the specimen that tested positive for enterovirus.Nevertheless, this shows that enterovirus 71 is circulating in the community and has resulted in three cases with severe complications, including one death.Hence, Taiwan CDC advises the public and physicians to stay vigilant against enterovirus.

Taiwan CDC warns that enterovirus is highly contagious and the risk of transmission is higher at home and at school, including kindergarten, child care centers and student care centers.Infants and children under the age of 5 are at the highest risk for complications. When a child in a household is diagnosed with enterovirus infection, please refrain the sick child from close contact with other children. The excrement (feces, nasal and oral secretions) of the patient shall be handled with care, and parents shall immediately wash their hands after disposing of them. In addition, parents are urged to pay close attention to the symptoms of the sick child, if the sick child develops suspected symptoms such as drowsiness, disturbed consciousness, inactivity, flaccid paralysis, myoclonic jerk, continuous vomiting, tachypnea, and tachycardia. Once the sick child experiences the aforementioned symptoms, please take the child to a large hospital for medical attention immediately.

For more information about enterovirus, please call the toll-free Communicable Disease Reporting and Consultation Hotline, 1922, operated by Taiwan CDC or visit the Taiwan CDC website at http://www.cdc.gov.tw.