On November 18, 2014, the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) announced this year’s sixth rubella (German measles) case in a 31-year-old male who resides in northern Taiwan. On November 7, he developed fever, runny nose and rash. On the following day, he sought medical attention. On November 11, rubella infection was confirmed in the case. Currently, the case has been isolated for medical treatment. Since the case had not recently traveled overseas, Taiwan CDC determined the case to be an indigenous case. The possible source of infection is being investigated. To prevent further transmission of the disease, the health authorities has implemented a number of prevention measures and identified 215 contacts, including his family members, colleagues, and healthcare personnel and patients that he came into contact with when he sought medical attention, to monitor and follow up until December 5. Currently, none of the contacts has developed any suspected symptoms.

Thus far this year, a total of 6 rubella cases have been confirmed in Taiwan. Among the confirmed cases, 2 became infected in China, 1 became infected in the Philippines, 1 became infected in Indonesia, 1 became infected in Malaysia, and 1 became infected in Taiwan. Pregnant women who are tested negative for rubella antibody are advised against traveling to areas affected by rubella. Taiwan CDC advises travelers aged between 20 and 50 planning to visit affected areas and will come into contact with pregnant women and children below one year of age who have not completed the MMR vaccine series to visit the outpatient travel clinic at 23 contracted hospitals in the nation to determine the need for rubella vaccination 2 to 4 weeks prior to their trip. As vaccination remains the most effective way to prevent rubella, parents are urged to ensure timely vaccination of children under one year old and those who have not completed the MMR (Measles, Mumps, and Rubella) vaccine series and are advised against bringing children below the age of one or those who have not received the MMR vaccine to areas affected by rubella. If such travel is inevitable, children are recommended to receive one dose of self-paid MMR vaccine two weeks prior to visiting the affected areas at local health stations.

Rubella is a highly contagious disease. People who are infected with rubella are infectious from 1 week before to at least 4 days after the rash appears. It is transmitted through airborne droplet or close contact with the patient, but it is vaccine-preventable. If symptoms pertaining to rubella infection such as fever, fatigue, nasopharyngitis and obviously swollen lymph nodes behind the ears develop and are accompanied by generalized irregular papules, joint pain or arthritis, please put on a mask, seek immediate medical attention, and voluntarily inform the physician of relevant travel and exposure history. For more information, please visit the Taiwan CDC’s website at http://www.cdc.gov.tw or call the toll-free Communicable Disease Reporting and Consultation Hotline, 1922, or 0800-001922.