On November 16, 2011, the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) announced two new cases of enterovirus 71 infection with severe complications.The two cases are a one-year-and-three-month-old boy and a five-year-and-one-month-old boy who both reside in Jhongpu Township, Chiayi County.They respectively developed symptoms such as fever, skin rash, oral ulcer, inactivity, and myoclonic jerk on November 4 and 5.Fortunately, they were both rushed to a hospital for medical treatment prior to developing complications.Both were first treated at the intensive care unit and then transferred to a general ward before being discharged from the hospital.According to the epidemiological investigation, some children who are living in the same household or in the same class with the cases have had enterovirus infection previously.Therefore, Taiwan CDC urges the public to pay attention to personal hygiene, wash hands regularly, and seek immediate medical attention and stay home when sick in order to reduce the risk of enterovirus infection.

According to surveillance data collected by Taiwan CDC, the ER consultation rates for enterovirus infection in Yunlin, Chiayi and Tainan are comparatively higher than that in other areas in the nation.Thus far, a total of eight cases of enterovirus 71 infection with severe complications have been reported in Yunlin, Chiayi and Tainan, including one death.Taiwan CDC warns since no large-scale outbreak of EV71 has occurred in Taiwan for three years, the likelihood of a large-scale outbreak of EV71 to occur next year is getting high.Besides Yunlin, Chiayi and Tainan, other cities and counties throughout the nation have also reported cases of enterovirus infection.As of now, a total of three children have died from enterovirus infection this year.Although it is winter in Taiwan now and the eneterovirus season has passed, Taiwan CDC advises the public and physicians to remain vigilant against enterovirus.

Taiwan CDC warns that enterovirus is highly contagious and the risk of transmission is higher at home and at school, including kindergarten, child care centers and student care centers.Infants and children under the age of 5 are at the highest risk for complications. When a child in a household is diagnosed with enterovirus infection, please refrain the sick child from close contact with other children. The excrement (feces, nasal and oral secretions) of the patient shall be handled with care, and parents shall immediately wash their hands after disposing of them. In addition, parents are urged to pay close attention to the symptoms of the sick child, if the sick child develops suspected symptoms such as drowsiness, disturbed consciousness, inactivity, flaccid paralysis, myoclonic jerk, continuous vomiting, tachypnea, and tachycardia. Once the sick child experiences the aforementioned symptoms, please take the child to a large hospital for medical attention immediately in order to ensure prompt treatment.

For more information about enterovirus, please call the toll-free Communicable Disease Reporting and Consultation Hotline, 1922, operated by Taiwan CDC or visit the Taiwan CDC website at http://www.cdc.gov.tw.