During November 21 and 25, 2013, the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) confirmed three cases of meningococcal meningitis. Every year, winter and spring are the peak seasons for meningococcal meningitis. Hence, Taiwan CDC urges the public to wash hands frequently, maintain a healthy lifestyle, avoid staying in crowded or poorly ventilated rooms for long hours, seek immediate medical attention when symptoms such as fever, headache, neck stiffness, nausea and vomiting develop. Physicians are reminded to be vigilant for any suspected cases and prescribe antibiotics when appropriate to effectively treat patients with meningococcal meningitis and reduce associated deaths.

According to Taiwan CDC, the three cases respectively are an 8-month-old baby girl who resides in Hualien County, a 3-year-old boy who resides in Taitung County and a 16-year-old boy who resides in Taichung City and they had disease onsets between November 8 and 18. All of them experienced fever. The 16-year-old boy developed neck stiffness, hemorrhagic rash, unconsciousness, coma and shock. Currently, the 16-year-old boy’s condition remains severe and is still hospitalized in intensive care unit for treatment. One case’s condition is stable and is still hospitalized for treatment, while the other case has recovered and been discharged from the hospital. Two of the cases are tested positive for Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B, while the other is unsubtypable. After evaluation, close contacts of the cases have either been given post-exposure prophylaxis or tested for meningococcal meningitis. Taiwan CDC will continue to monitor the outbreak situation and follow up on the cases.

Meningococcal meningitis season lasts about six months, from November to March. During the recent years, Neisseria meningitidis serougroup B is the most common serogroup that causes disease in Taiwan. The bacteria are transmitted from person-to-person through droplets of respiratory or throat secretions from carriers. Infected patients may develop no or merely upper respiratory symptoms. In severe case, meningitis and bacteremia may develop. The most common symptoms are fever, headache, neck stiffness, nausea, vomiting, and hemorrhagic rash. Sometimes, patients develop coma, delirium, and even shock and death. Thus far this year, an accumulative total of 5 meningococcal meningitis cases, including 2 cases infected with Neisseria meningitidis serougroup B, 2 cases infected with Neisseria meningitidis serougroup C, and 1 case that is unsubtypable, have been confirmed, which is the same as the number of meningococcal meningitis cases confirmed during the same period last year, including 4 cases infected with Neisseria meningitidis serougroup B and 1 case infected with Neisseria meningitidis serougroup C.

Some of the basic measures that reduce the risks of contracting meningococcal meningitis include washing hands frequently, maintaining good indoor ventilation, avoiding staying in poorly ventilated rooms for long hours, and seeking prompt medical attention when suspected symptoms developed. Taiwan CDC advises travelers planning to visit areas affected by meningococcal meningitis to visit the contracted travel medicine outpatient clinic to evaluate the need of meningococcal meningitis vaccination before their trip. Taiwan CDC also urges the public to seek timely medical assistance when suspected symptoms develop and inform the doctor of any recent travel history and activity to facilitate prompt diagnosis and case reporting. Physicians are also advised to be vigilant for any suspected cases and prescribe antibiotics when appropriate. 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 Care Hotline, 1922, or 0800-001922 if calling from a cell phone.