On October 9, 2012, the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) announced one new case of enterovirus 71 infection with severe complications confirmed last week. The case is a six-year-old boy who resides in eastern Taiwan.At the end of September, he developed muscle twitching and rashes on hands. After seeking medical attention at a clinic, the case was diagnosed with enterovirus infection. Subsequently, when the case developed myoclonus, which is a prodromal sign of complications, he was transferred to a large hospital for further medical treatment. After receiving appropriate treatment, the case has recovered and been discharged from the hospital. As of October 8, a cumulative total of 147 cases of enterovirus infection with severe complications have been reported this year. Of the cases, 144 were infected with enterovirus 71, including two deaths.

According to the surveillance data compiled by Taiwan CDC, enterovirus activity has been on a steady decline.Nevertheless, enterovirus 71 remains the dominant virus strain circulating in the community and the risk of transmission and developing complications remains. Since many festive events in Taiwan are held in October, increased interaction among people will likely increase the transmission of enterovirus. Hence, Taiwan CDC reminds the public to avoid taking infants and children to crowded public places, pay attention to personal hygiene and take prevention measures such as putting on a mask prior to visiting crowded places and washing hands frequently to effectively decrease the chance of enterovirus infection.

Taiwan CDC once again warns that enterovirus is highly contagious and the risk of transmission is higher crowded places, including kindergarten, child care centers and student care centers. Hence, Taiwan CDC would like to remind the public to maintain environmental cleanliness and disinfect children’s toys regularly. Both adults and children should develop good personal hygiene habits, including seeking medical attention immediately when sick, resting at home when sick, and avoiding contact with infants and young children and visiting crowded places when sick in order to reduce the risk of disease transmission and risk of developing complications and ensure prompt recovery.

As enterovirus 71 is more likely to result in complications and it continues to circulate in the community, when a child in a household is diagnosed with enterovirus infection, 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  0800-024582 if calling from a cell phone, or visit the Taiwan CDC’s website at http://www.cdc.gov.tw.