On January 5, 2018, the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) announced 1 new measles case in an over 40-year-old male. On December 28, 2017, he developed symptoms, including cough, fever, rhinitis, conjunctivitis, fatigue, and limb weakness. On January 2, he sought medical attention after developing rash. On January 5, infection with measles was confirmed in the case after the hospital reported the case to the competent authority and collected specimens from the case for laboratory testing. Currently, the case is hospitalized for treatment in isolation. Based on the case’s activity and exposure history during the incubation period, it is determined that the case is an indigenous case as he had not traveled overseas.

To prevent further transmission of the disease, the local health authority has implemented a number of prevention measures and identified 230 contacts, including his family members who reside in the same household, healthcare personnel and patients that he came into contact with when he sought medical attention, to monitor and follow up until January 20, 2018.　During the infectious period, besides going to work and seeking medical attention, the case visited and shopped at an outlet in Linkou District, New Taipei City during 5pm to 9 pm on December 31, 2017. As measles is a highly infectious disease that is spread by contact with droplets from the nose, mouth or throat of an infected person, either directly or through aerosol transmission, people who visited the same outlet during the aforementioned time are potential contacts and are thus urged to conduct self-health management for 18 days till January 18. If suspected symptoms develop, please put on a mask immediately, seek prompt medical attention and voluntarily notify the physician of the relevant exposure history.

According to the domestic surveillance data compiled by Taiwan CDC, last year, a cumulative total of 6 measles cases were confirmed in Taiwan, including 1 indigenous case and 5 imported cases. During the year before last year, a cumulative total of 14 measles cases were confirmed in Taiwan, including 6 indigenous cases and 8 imported cases.

According to the international epidemic surveillance data compiled by Taiwan CDC, the global measles epidemics have continued to occur. Among the neighboring countries, China, Thailand, India and Indonesia have reported a higher number of cases and cases have continued to occur in these countries. On the other hand, in Europe, Romania has been hit the hardest by measles, while Italy, Ukraine, Germany and Greece have all reported a higher number of cases compared to the previous years. In addition, major cities in the U.K. reported outbreaks during November and December 2017.　　Currently, Taiwan CDC has issued a travel notice of Level 1: Watch for measles to 14 countries, including China, Indonesia, Thailand, India, Kazakhstan, the United Kingdom, Ukraine, Greece, Romania, Italy, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guinea, Sierra Leone and Nigeria.　

Measles is more common during late winter and spring. Taiwan CDC reminds that vaccination remains the best way to prevent infection. In Taiwan, the existing routine childhood vaccination schedule recommends a dose of measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine to children 12 months of age. Unvaccinated infants and children, those who do not receive vaccine in a timely manner and those who have never been infected with measles are high-risk groups. Parents are urged to ensure timely vaccination of children under one year old and those who have not completed the MMR vaccine series and avoid bringing unvaccinated children to the affected areas in order to prevent infection. If travel to affected areas with children at the age of 6-12 months is unavoidable, please bring the children to the local health bureau or contracted healthcare provider for one dose of MMR vaccine 2 weeks prior to the trip. 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).