As the summer vacation is coming to an end, increased interaction among schoolchildren after schools reopen will likely increase the transmission of enterovirus at home and at school.The Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) advises both parents and schoolchildren to pay attention to personal hygiene and wash hands frequently to effectively decrease the chance of enterovirus infection.If a schoolchild is sick, seek immediate medical attention for the child and make him/her rest at home.

Enterovirus infection is one of the major seasonal infectious diseases in Taiwan. Every year, cases of enterovirus infection are reported.The enterovirus season in Taiwan is usually from April through September each year.This year’s dominant circulating virus is coxsackievirus.In comparison, less enterovirus-71 activity has been observed this year.Hence, the number of severe complications associated with EV-71 reported thus far is less.This year, a total of 15 cases of severe complications associated with EV-71 have been reported.According to the past surveillance data, the number of enterovirus infection may increase after schools reopen.Taiwan CDC urges the public to stay vigilant against enterovirus infection.

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.Hence, the public is urged to practice good personal hygiene for themselves, their infants and young children and wash hands frequently and correctly to decrease the chance of infection.
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 carefully handled, 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 any questions or further information on enterovirus infection, please call the toll-free Communicable Disease Reporting and Consultation Hotline 1922, or visit the Taiwan CDC’s website at: http://www.cdc.gov.tw.