The Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) today (April 2) reported one new fatal case of enterovirus infection with severe complications in a one-year-old boy in southern Taiwan. In early March, the child developed fever and respiratory symptoms and, two days later, began experiencing seizures and altered consciousness. He was taken to the emergency department, diagnosed with acute encephalitis, and admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit. Despite intensive treatment, his condition deteriorated rapidly due to encephalitis, and he passed away on the sixth day after symptom onset. Laboratory testing confirmed that the infection was caused by Coxsackievirus B5, marking the first case of enterovirus infection with severe complications caused by this strain in Taiwan this year. 

According to Taiwan CDC surveillance data, overall enterovirus activity in Taiwan remains low, with outpatient visits for enterovirus among children aged 0 to 2 also at a low level. However, from February to March this year, a cumulative total of four cases of enterovirus infection with severe complications were reported. This is the highest number for the same period in the past five years, highlighting the need for continued monitoring and heightened public awareness. In the past four weeks, laboratory surveillance has identified Coxsackievirus A16 as the predominant strain, followed by Echovirus 11 and Coxsackievirus A6, along with various other types. 

Among the four severe cases (including three deaths) of enterovirus infection with severe complications, three were caused by Echovirus 11 and one by Coxsackievirus B5. Two of the cases occurred in newborns under one month old. The current number of severe cases exceeds those reported during the same period from 2021 to 2024 (ranging from 0 to 2 cases). The total cumulative number of cases from 2021 to 2024 was 0, 3, 11, and 12, respectively, with the number of cases in children under one year of age being 0, 1, 4, and 8. Taiwan CDC reminds the public to stay alert for early signs of enterovirus infection with severe complications, especially in newborns and young children. 

Taiwan CDC pointed out that enteroviruses are highly contagious, especially in households and settings where frequent person-to-person interaction occurs. Children infected with enterovirus should stay home and avoid contact with other children to prevent cross-infection. With the upcoming Tomb-Sweeping Holiday, increased travel and gatherings may elevate the risk of disease transmission. Parents and childcare workers as well as educators are reminded to monitor children’s health and hygiene practices closely and to ensure adequate ventilation and regular disinfection and cleaning in homes and childcare environments. They are also reminded to teach children to thoroughly wash their hands with soap using the five-step method: wet, lather, scrub, rinse, and dry, before meals, after returning home, and after visiting places where there is frequent interaction with people, such as after-school programs, nurseries, and indoor play centers. Children should stay home when sick to protect themselves and others. 

Taiwan CDC reminds the public that children under the age of five are at higher risk of developing severe complications following enterovirus infection, which can progress rapidly. If a child diagnosed with enterovirus by a physician develops prodromal symptoms of severe illness such as flaccid paralysis, limb weakness, drowsiness, disturbed consciousness, inactivity, myoclonic jerk (unexplained startle response or abrupt muscle contractions of the whole body), persistent vomiting, tachypnea, and tachycardia, medical attention should be sought at a large hospital immediately. For more information, please visit the Taiwan CDC website at https://www.cdc.gov.tw or call the toll-free Communicable Disease Reporting and Consultation Hotline, 1922 (or 0800-001922).