On May 15, 2015, the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) announced this year’s second confirmed indigenous case of measles in Taiwan. The case is a 25-year-old female white-collar worker. On May 5, she developed slight cough. On May 8, she sought medical attention at a clinic when she developed fever and cough. On May 11, she sought further medical attention when her symptoms persisted. In the evening of the same day, she developed rash on her body and face. On the following day, she sought medical attention at a hospital. On May 14, infection with measles was confirmed in the case. At the time of writing, the case was isolated at home for recovery. Since the case had not traveled overseas during the exposure period, Taiwan CDC determined the case to be an indigenous case. The possible source of infection is still under investigation.

To prevent further transmission of the disease, the health authorities has implemented a number of prevention measures and identified 114 contacts, including her family members, coworkers, healthcare personnel and patients that he came into contact with when she sought medical attention, to monitor and follow up until June 2. Thus far, only one contact was found to have developed suspected symptoms, the rest had not developed any symptoms. If symptoms such as fever and rash, please put on a facemask, seek medical assistance immediately, and voluntarily inform the physician of relevant exposure history.

Thus far this year, a total of 2 indigenous measles case and 1 imported measles case from China have been confirmed in Taiwan. During the same period last year, 12 measles cases were confirmed, including 2 indigenous cases and 10 imported cases (5 became infected in the Philippines, 2 became infected in China, 1 became infected in Indonesia, 1 became infected in Malaysia, and 1 became infected in Vietnam). Taiwan CDC reminds that 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. An infected person remains infectious 4 days before and after the development of rash. Physicians are urged to remain vigilant for suspected cases. If symptoms such as fever, rhinitis, conjunctivitis, and rash develop, please seek immediate medical attention and to reduce further transmission and voluntarily inform the physician of relevant travel and exposure history.

The transmission of measles is further facilitated by ever increasing international exchange and travel, especially among populations that are not vaccinated against the disease. 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. 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. 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).