In response to an outside speculation suspecting the large-scale enterovirus outbreak occurring in China originated from Taiwan, the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) today clarified again that the eneterovirus strain currently circulating in China is different from that currently circulating in Taiwan.Furthermore, no evidence has indicated any association between the ongoing outbreaks in China and Taiwan.

On May 8, 2008, Taiwan CDC received a facsimile from the China Center for Disease Control and Prevention informing Taiwan that the current enterovirus outbreak in Fuyang, Anhui, China has been confirmed to be caused by the subgenogroup C4 strain of EV71.On the other hand, the current enterovirus outbreak occurring in Taiwan is caused by the subgenogroup B5 strain of EV71.Since two different strains of EV71 account for the current outbreaks in China and Taiwan, the outbreak in China did not originate from Taiwan.Nonetheless, due to frequent contacts between China and Taiwan, the possibility of the different virus strains spreading across the strait is increased.Therefore, Taiwan CDC urges the public to protect themselves against enterovirus infection.