On April 3, 2012, the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) announced one new case of enterovirus 71 infection with severe complications. The case is a one-year-and-nine-month-old girl who resides in southern Taiwan. In mid-March, the case developed symptoms pertaining to enterovirus infection, including fever, rashes on limbs, oral ulcer, and prodromal signs of complications, including myoclonic jerk and acute flaccid paralysis. Fortunately, she was promptly rushed to a large hospital for medical treatment. As of now, the case has recovered and been discharged. On the other hand, three older children who live in the same household with the case also experienced symptoms pertaining to enterovirus infection several days after the case developed her symptoms and they have all recovered.

The threat of enterovirus 71 continues to persist as mild cases of enterovirus 71 and cases of enterovirus infection with severe complications have still been detected. As of April 2, a total of 21 cases of enterovirus infection with severe complications have been reported. Taiwan CDC advises as the weather gets warmer, the number of enterovirus cases, including enterovirus infection with severe complications, will increase. The public is warned to remain vigilant of enterovirus infection.

Taiwan CDC once again warns that enterovirus is highly contagious and the risk of transmission is higher at home and 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. 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 on enterovirus, please call the toll-free Communicable Disease Reporting and Consultation Hotline, 1922, or 0800-001922 if calling from a cell phone, or visit the Taiwan CDC’s website at http://www.cdc.gov.tw.