On December 9, 2011, the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) announced four new cases of enterovirus 71 infection with severe complications. All four cases are children aged below 4 years old.Two of the cases reside in Chiayi County, one resides in Taoyuan County and one resides in Taichung City.Fortunately, they were all rushed to a hospital for medical treatment prior to developing complications. They have all recovered and been discharged from the hospital.Thus far, all the 39 cases of enterovirus infection with severe complications, including three deaths in children, have been caused by EV71.As of now, the EV71 epidemic has yet to abate in Taiwan and the likelihood of a large-scale outbreak of EV71 among children to occur next spring is high.Hence, Taiwan CDC urges the public to practice good personal hygiene by washing hands regularly and properly.It is especially important to lather and scrub for at least 20 seconds when washing hands even in cold weather.Further, the public is also urged to seek immediate medical attention and stay home when sick in order to reduce the transmission of enterovirus.

In response to possible occurrence of large outbreaks of enterovirus, Taiwan CDC convened an expert meeting last month to discuss and describe various strategies for the management of enterovirus infection, including continuing evaluation of enterovirus prevention and preparedness activities at childcare centers and public places through cross-sector collaboration.Additionally, in support of comprehensive efforts to prevent enterovirus, Taiwan CDC is conducting a clinical management training program for related physicians and specialists and reinforcing cooperation and collaboration between medical centers and regional hospitals in order to ensure efficient and excellent delivery of medical services even when there is a sudden increase in the number of patients.

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.