On January 9, 2014, the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) announced another case of enterovirus 71 infection with severe complications. The case is a three-year-old boy who resides in northern Taiwan. In late December, 2013, he developed fever and herpangina. Subsequently, he experienced symptoms of the central nervous system involvement, including vomiting, drowsiness, slurred speech, and movement disorders. After being hospitalized for treatment at a large hospital, the case has recovered and been discharged. According to the epidemiological investigation, the case might have become infected by an asyptomatic patient. Hence, Taiwan CDC advises the public, especially households with infants and children, to take measures to ward off infection, including washing hands thoroughly and maintaining personal hygiene.

Taiwan CDC states that high relative humidity favors the survival and spread of enteroviruses. Although winter is not enterovirus season, the virus remains active in winter. According to Taiwan CDC’s surveillance data, coxsackie A virus is currently the dominant virus strain circulating in the community and only sporadic cases of enterovirus 71 infection have been detected. The public is reminded to stay vigilant against the virus. In 2013, a total of 12 cases of enterovirus infection with severe complications were confirmed, including 7 cases of EV71 , 3 cases of CA6 and 1 case of CA5 that recovered and 1 case of Echo30 in a newborn that died.

Taiwan CDC stresses that most infected persons develop mild influenza-like illness symptoms. As enterovirus is highly contagious and the risk of transmission is higher at home and school, including kindergarten, child care centers and student care centers, Taiwan CDC urges both adults and children should develop good personal hygiene habits such as washing hands properly, seeking medical attention immediately when sick, and resting at home when sick in order to reduce the risk of disease transmission. Parents are advised not to bring sick children to crowded public places to reduce the risk of enterovirus transmission. Child care facilities are advised to reinforce the importance of frequent hand washing and good hand washing technique for all children, and clean and disinfect the environment regularly.

Taiwan CDC once again reminds the public that infants and children aged below 5 are at increased risk of developing enterovirus infection with severe complications. Taiwan CDC once again warns when a child in a household is diagnosed with enterovirus infection, parents and child caregivers are urged to refrain the sick child from close contact with other children to prevent further spread of the disease and pay close attention to the symptoms of the sick child. Once the sick child develops suspected symptoms such as persistent fever, drowsiness, disturbed consciousness, inactivity, flaccid paralysis, myoclonic jerk, continuous vomiting, tachypnea, and tachycardia, please take the child to a large hospital immediately in order to ensure prompt treatment. For more information on enterovirus, 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.