According to the surveillance data compiled by Taiwan CDC, recently, the ER consultation rate for enterovirus infection has rapidly increased to 17.76%, which is the highest among the same period during the past 7 years, indicating enterovirus activity has peaked. Therefore, Taiwan CDC advises the public to take measures to ward off infection, including washing hands thoroughly and frequently, staying at home when sick, seeking medical assistance at a large hospital when prodromal symptoms of severe infection develop.

 
This year, coxsackie-virus A6 is the dominant virus strain circulating in the community. The risk of developing central nervous system complications from coxsackie-virus A6 infection is comparatively lower than that from enterovirus 71 infection.  As the end of May, 4 cases of enterovirus infection with severe complications have been confirmed this year, which is less than that reported (67) during the same period last year.  Although coxsackie-virus A6 is not as pathogenic as enterovirus 71 and causes only mild symptoms in infected patients, the risk of developing complications remains. Hence, the public is urged to remain vigilant against enterovirus infection.

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. Taiwan CDC also reminds the public to clean and disinfect the environment and toys and objects children play with regularly and educate children the importance of cleanliness in maintaining health in order to prevent disease transmission.  When a child is suspected of enterovirus infection, please assist the child in seeking immediate medical attention and ensure the child receive treatment according to the doctor’s instructions.  If someone in the household is infected with enterovirus, please refrain the sick person from close contact with other healthy children to prevent further spread of the disease.

 
Taiwan CDC urges parents to pay close attention to the symptoms of the child diagnosed with enterovirus infection, if 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 for medical attention immediately in order to ensure prompt treatment. For more information about enterovirus, please call the toll-free Communicable Disease Reporting and Care Hotline, 1922, operated by Taiwan CDC or visit the Taiwan CDC website at http://www.cdc.gov.tw.