On May 31, 2012, the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) announced this year’s first confirmed indigenous case of measles in Taiwan. The case is a 27-year-old male who resides in northern Taiwan and has no recent travel history. On May 21, when he developed fever and coughing, he took a fever reducer. On May 23, his symptoms persisted and he started to develop rashes on the face and limbs. Since May 24, he subsequently sought medical attention at a clinic and a hospital. On May 28, he was reported to the health authority as a suspected measles case by the hospital. On May 30, measles infection was confirmed in the case by Taiwan CDC. To promptly prevent the spread of the disease, health authorities have implemented all the necessary prevention control measures upon receiving the report of the measles case. All the contacts of the case were asked to monitor their health and educated about measles. Currently, none of the contacts has developed suspected symptoms.

As a tremendous amount of efforts have been committed to measles prevention and elimination in Taiwan for years, the number of measles cases occurred has drastically decreased. Nevertheless, in recent years, measles outbreaks continue to occur in many countries. Transmission of the virus is further facilitated through frequent international travel and exchange, spreading the disease among unvaccinated high risk groups. According to a recent study, measles immunization received in early childhood begins to lose its effectiveness by the teenage years. As a result, the number of measles cases reported among adults has been on the rise over the years.

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. Taiwan CDC once again reminds parents the importance of timely vaccination for children. 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 and should avoid visiting endemic areas, including China, Europe and Southeast Asia. College faculty and staff, military personnel, health care workers, and child care personnel, especially those aged between 18 and 30, planning to travel overseas are advised to visit the travel clinic two weeks prior to their travel and the physician will determine if they need to receive the MMR vaccine.

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, if suspected symptoms develop after returning home from an endemic area, please seek immediate medical assistance and inform the doctor of the recent travel history to facilitate diagnosis and implementation of subsequent measures to prevent further spread of the disease. For any questions or further information on measles, please call the toll-free Communicable Disease Case Reporting and Consultation Hotline 1922, or 0800-024582 if calling from a cell phone, or visit the Taiwan CDC’s website: http://www.cdc.gov.tw.