On May 6, 2016, the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) announced this year’s first measles case in a 20-year-old female student who is studying in northern Taiwan. On April 27, she sought medical attention at a clinic after developing cough, runny nose and fever. On April 29, she sought further medical attention at the clinic after developing rash on her neck. On May 2, when her symptoms, including high fever, sore throat and rash on her neck and face, persisted, she sought medical assistance at the emergency department of a hospital and was immediately hospitalized in an isolation ward. Measles infection was laboratory-confirmed in the case after the case was reported to the health authority as a suspected measles case by the hospital. As of now, the case has been removed from isolation and is still currently hospitalized for treatment. According to the epidemiological investigation, the case had not recently traveled overseas. Hence, it is determined to be an indigenous case and the potential source of infection is being investigated.

To prevent further transmission of the disease, the health authority has implemented a number of prevention measures and identified 376 contacts, including her family members, people she contacted at school, people staying at the same dormitory, healthcare personnel and patients that she came into contact with when she sought medical attention, to monitor and follow up until May 21. 9 of the contacts have been followed up and 357 of them are being followed up.　Currently, none of the contacts has developed suspected symptoms.　In addition, during the infectious period (April 25 and May 3), besides visiting a clinic and a hospital, the case took High Speed Rail (HSR) Train 1537 that departed from Taipei at 3:18 pm and rode in Car 4 to arrive in Taichung at 4:20 pm on April 29. Hence, Taiwan CDC urges people who rode in the same public transportation with the case during the aforementioned times and dates to remain vigilant for measles infection and monitor their own health for 18 days after exposure. If symptoms pertaining to measles such as fever and rash develop, please put on a mask, seek immediate medical attention, and voluntarily notify the physician of the relevant exposure history.

Thus far this year, a total of 3 measles cases, including 1 indigenous case with unknown source of infection and 2 imported cases from China and Vietnam, have been confirmed. Last year, a total of 29 measles cases, including 23 indigenous cases and 6 imported cases from China, were confirmed in Taiwan.

Taiwan CDC reminds that vaccination remains the best way to prevent measles. 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. Travelers planning to visit affected areas are advised to visit the outpatient travel clinic at 26 contracted hospitals in the nation to determine the need for MMR vaccination 2 to 4 weeks prior to their trip. If symptoms pertaining to measels infection such as fever, fatigue, nasopharyngitis and obviously swollen lymph nodes behind the ears, and generalized irregular papules, joint pain or arthritis develop after returning to Taiwan from affected areas, please put on a mask, seek immediate medical attention, and voluntarily inform the physician of relevant travel and exposure history. 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).