On February 26, 2011, the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) announced this year’s first confirmed indigenous case of measles in Taiwan.The case is a 20-year-old female student who goes to a school in northern Taiwan.The case attended the Sky Lantern Festival held in Shi-Fen Liao Village, Pingxi Township, New Taipei City (formerly known as Taipei County) with her classmates during the Chinese New Year Holiday.The case was infectious when she attended the event.To prevent further transmission of the virus and community-wide outbreaks, Taiwan CDC advises any one who has not completed the measles vaccine series and took the Taiwan Railway to travel back and forth between Taipei City and Shi-Fen Liao Village, Pingxi Township, New Taipei City during 1pm to 8pm on February 16, 2011 to monitor his/her health for 18 days.If suspected symptoms develop, please seek medical attention immediately and inform the physician of any relevant contact history to facilitate prompt diagnosis and treatment.

Measles is a highly infectious respiratory disease that is spread by contact with droplets from the nose, mouth or throat of an infected person, either directly or through aerosol transmission.Measles is more common during late winter and spring.Early symptoms include fever (over 38℃), coryza, cough, and conjunctivitis.Rash usually starts from behind the ears and spread to the face and down across the body.Taiwan CDC reminds the public to seek immediate medical attention when sick and avoid going to work or school or taking public transportation to reduce further transmission.
The best way to prevent measles is vaccination.In Taiwan, the existing routine childhood vaccination schedule recommends a dose of MMR vaccine to children 12 months of age and another dose to first graders in elementary schools.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.Taiwan CDC once again reminds parents the importance of timely vaccination for children.As the MMR vaccine coverage rate has remained high over the recent years in Taiwan, the number of measles cases occurred has drastically decreased.Taiwan CDC urges physicians to remain vigilant against measles and report a patient to the health authority if he/she develops suspected symptoms of measles such as rash, fever over 38℃ and one of the following symptoms: cough, runny nose or conjunctivitis (sensitivity to light, watering of the eyes or redness in the eyes).In addition, physicians are advised to isolate patients when necessary to prevent further spread of the virus.

For more information on measles prevention, please visit the Taiwan CDC’s website: http://www.cdc.gov.tw/ or call the toll-free Communicable Disease Reporting and Consultation Hotline, 1922.