On October 16, 2015, the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) announced one new indigenous measles case confirmed in a 19-year-old male who resides in Xinying District, Tainan City. On October 8, the case sought medical attention at a clinic after experiencing sore throat, cough and yellow phlegm. On the next day, when his symptoms persisted and he developed rashes on his limbs, he sought further medical attention at a clinic on October 10 and then returned home. On October 11, when he was still experiencing discomfort, he sought medical assistance at a hospital and was placed in an isolation ward for treatment. Infection with measles was confirmed in the case after the hospital reported the suspected case to the health authority. As of now, the case has been discharged. Since the case had not traveled overseas during the exposure period, it was determined the case is an indigenous case. Possible sources of investigation are still being investigated.

According to the epidemiological investigation, the case had completed measles vaccination. Thus far, the health authority has identified 136 contacts, including his family members, coworkers, healthcare personnel and patients that he came into contact with when he sought medical attention, to monitor and follow up until October 29. Currently, 103 contacts have been notified about the case and none of them has developed suspected symptoms. Based on the initial genotype sequencing, the measles strain infecting the case has the same genotype as the one infecting the other case imported from China. Additionally, there is possibly another undiagnosed case connected to the two cases. To prevent further transmission of the disease, the local health authority in has requested all medical facilities to heighten vigilance for potential measles cases.

Thus far this year, a total of 29 measles cases have been confirmed in Taiwan, including 23 indigenous measles cases (19 were clustered cases who work at the same place, while 2 were clustered cases at a hospital) and 6 imported measles cases from China. During the same period last year, 21 measles cases were confirmed, including 4 indigenous cases and 17 imported cases (6 imported from China, 6 from the Philippines, 2 from Indonesia, 1 each from Hong Kong, Malaysia and Vietnam.

Taiwan CDC reminds that vaccination remains the best way to prevent measles. 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. 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. Parents are urged to ensure timely vaccination of children under one year old and those who have not completed the MMR vaccine series and avoid bringing unvaccinated children to the affected areas in order to prevent infection. Travelers planning to visit affected areas are advised to visit the outpatient travel clinic at 26 contracted hospitals in the nation to determine the need for MMR vaccination 2 to 4 weeks prior to their trip. In addition, as dengue remain rampant in southern Taiwan, Taiwan CDC reminds the public that signs and symptoms of dengue are similar to those of measles. Hence, when symptoms such as fever, rhinitis, conjunctivitis and rash develop, please put on a mask, seek immediate medical attention, and voluntarily inform the physician of relevant travel and exposure history in order to facilitate prompt diagnosis and timely treatment. For more information, please visit the Taiwan CDC website at http://www.cdc.gov.tw or call the toll-free Communicable Disease Reporting and Consultation Hotline, 1922 (or 0800-001922).