On May 8, 2012, the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) announced four new cases of enterovirus 71 infection with severe complications. The cases respectively are a one-year-and-eleven-month-old girl and a two-year-and-nine-month-old boy who reside in northern Taiwan, a two-year-and-three-month-old boy who resides in central Taiwan, and a nine-month-old boy who resides in southern Taiwan. In late-April, they respectively developed symptoms pertaining to enterovirus infection, including fever, rashes on limbs, and oral ulcer, and prodromal signs of complications, including excessive sleepiness, decreased activity, myoclonic jerk, tachycardia, weakness of limbs, and vomiting. After seeking medical attention, three cases have recovered and been discharged while the one-year-and-eleven-month-old girl is still hospitalized for treatment.

According to surveillance data collected by Taiwan CDC, the consultation rate for hand-foot-and-mouth disease has increased significantly for two consecutive weeks and exceeded the epidemic threshold. Hence, the enterovirus epidemic has entered its peak. 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. Child care facilities are advised to reinforce the importance of frequent hand washing and good hand washing technique for all children, clean and disinfect the environment regularly, and follow the government’s policies to report cases and suspend classes accordingly.

Prompt treatment is crucial since complications develop quickly. 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 timely 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.