On February 28, 2014, the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) announced this year’s first imported rubella (German measles) case. The case is a 14-year-old Filipino female who arrived in Taiwan on February 14 to participate in the Badminton Asia Youth U19 Championships 2014. On February 19, she developed rashes. On February 27, rubella infection was confirmed in the case. At the time of writing, the case has been removed from isolation, and has recovered and been discharged from the hospital. Based on the incubation period for rubella, it is determined that the case is imported. As the case was still infectious when she flew to Taiwan and sought medical attention, to prevent further spread of the disease, the health authorities has implemented a number of prevention measures such as compiling a list of 372 contacts, including the case’s teammates, other participants, work staff, hotel and restaurant personnel, hospital personnel and patients at the emergency department and those in the same ward, to monitor their health and administer follow up activities such as post-exposure prophylaxis until March 18. Currently, none of the contacts has developed any suspected symptoms.

During the case’s visit to Taiwan, she stayed at the Taipei Fullerton Hotel, participated in activities held at the Taipei Gymnasium, and dined at the food court at the basement of Momo Department Store. Taiwan CDC urges people who have visited the abovementioned places during the same period to stay alert and monitor their health for 21 days (until March 12). If symptoms such as fever, conjunctivitis, nasopharyngitis, swollen glands (suboccipital and posterior cervical lymphadenopathy), and rashes develop, please seek immediate medical attention and inform the doctor of relevant exposure history to facilitate prompt diagnosis and treatment.

Rubella is a highly contagious disease that is transmitted through airborne droplet or close contact with the patient. Vaccination is an effective way to prevent rubella. Infants below one year of age and pregnant women who have no rubella antibodies are advised against travel to areas affected by the disease such as the Philippines and Vietnam. In addition, travelers are also recommended to visit the outpatient travel clinic at any of the 12 contracted hospitals in the nation two to four weeks prior to their trip to seek professional travel health advices that protect them against infectious diseases and determine their need for rubella vaccination.

Taiwan CDC urges parents to ensure their children to receive the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine at a local health station or contracted hospital when reaching 12 months of age. Taiwan CDC once again reminds the public the importance of timely vaccination for children. Women of child-bearing age who are tested negative for rubella antibody during the pre-marital medical examination can receive a free dose of MMR vaccine when presenting the negative rubella antibody result at the local health station. For any questions or further information, please visit the Taiwan CDC’s website at http://www.cdc.gov.tw or call the toll-free Communicable Disease Reporting and Care Hotline, 1922, or 0800-001922 if calling from a cell phone.