On May 1, 2012, the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) announced three new cases of enterovirus 71 infection with severe complications. The cases respectively are an 11-yea-rold boy who resides in northern Taiwan, a two-year-and-three-month-old girl who resides in central Taiwan, and a one-year-and-one-month-old boy who resides in southern Taiwan. In mid-April, they respectively developed symptoms pertaining to enterovirus infection, including fever, oral ulcer, and rashes on limbs, and prodromal signs of complications, including myoclonic jerk, tachycardia, weakness of limbs, and vomiting. Fortunately, they were all promptly rushed to a large hospital for medical treatment. Currently, the cases have all recovered and been discharged. As of April 30, a total of 30 cases of enterovirus infection with severe complications have been reported this year. 

Taiwan CDC once again warns that enterovirus is highly contagious and the risk of transmission is higher at home and 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. Prompt treatment is crucial since complications develop quickly. 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. 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 

According to surveillance data collected by Taiwan CDC, an epidemic of coxsackievirus B3 infection among newborns occurred in 2005, which led to a total of 26 cases of coxsackievirus B3 infection with severe complications, including two deaths. Coxsackievirus B3 infection is more common in infants below three months old. The virus can be transmitted through mother-to-child transmission during labor or after delivery. The symptoms include fever, encephalitis, hepatitis, sepsis, and myocarditis. Taiwan CDC reminds all mothers-to-be to stay vigilant against enterovirus infection 14 days prior to labor and after delivery, and if they or children residing in the same household develop symptoms pertaining to enterovirus infection such as fever, upper respiratory tract infection, diarrhea, and pleurodynia, they should inform their physician. Clinical physicians are urged to pay attention to the health of newborns and reinforce implementation of nosocomial infection control measures for newborn nurseries at the hospital.

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.