On June 5, 2015, the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) announced the first death from severe enterovirus infection in a newborn girl who resided in northern Taiwan. She developed symptoms three days after she was born. Eight days later, she died. Infection with coxsackie B virus was confirmed in the case. As the enterovirus activity has peaked, Taiwan CDC stresses that infants and children aged below 5 are at increased risk of developing enterovirus infection with severe complications. Hence, caregivers of children are urged to maintain personal hygiene and pay attention to prodromal symptoms of severe enterovirus infection in children to ensure timely treatment.

The case was born on May 22 and she developed intermittent shortness of breath, decreased activity, and loss of appetite on May 25. On the following day, when she developed cyanosis multiple times, her parent rushed her to the hospital for treatment in the neonatal intensive care unit. On May 29, infection with coxsackie B virus was confirmed in the case. On May 30, she developed enterovirus infection-associated multi-organ failure and death. Thus far, only a 2-year-old child residing in the same household has developed influenza-like illness. None of the other contacts has developed suspected symptoms.

According to surveillance data collected by Taiwan CDC, the ER consultation rate for enterovirus infection during Week 21 (5.98‰) remained about the same level as that during the previous week (5.93‰). At the moment, the ER consultation rate for enterovirus infection is higher than the epidemic threshold (2.70 ‰). Coxsackie A virus is currently the dominant strain circulating in the community. During Week 21, one new severe case of enterovirus infection caused by CB 5 virus was confirmed. During the same period in 2010 and 2014, the cumulative numbers of enterovirus infection cases respectively are 11, 0, 68, 4 and 4. During the same period in the same years, the numbers of deaths are all 0.

Taiwan CDC urges expectant mothers to pay attention to their health and the health of their babies, wash hands frequently and wear a facemask when necessary to ward off infection. In addition, 14 days before and after delivery, if symptoms such as fever, upper respiratory tract infection, diarrhea, and pleurodynia develop, please be sure to inform the physician. When a child in a household is diagnosed with enterovirus infection, please refrain the sick child from close contact with other children to reduce further transmission. On the other hand, parents are urged to pay close attention to the symptoms of the sick child. Once the sick child develops suspected symptoms such as 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, please visit the Taiwan CDC website at http://www.cdc.gov.tw or call the toll-free Communicable Disease Reporting and Care Hotline, 1922 (or 0800-001922).