During December 31, 2017 and January 6, 2018, the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) confirmed 3 new cases of enterovirus D68 infection with severe complications. Unlike the common symptoms of enterovirus infection such as hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) and herpangina, the primary symptoms of enterovirus D68 infection include the symptoms of the upper respiratory tract infection such as fever, runny nose, and cough. Hence, Taiwan CDC reminds the public to pay attention to the health of the children in their household if suspected symptoms such as acute flaccid paralysis and numbness develop in a child, please take the child to seek medical attention immediately.

The 3 new cases of enterovirus infection with severe complications were respectively confirmed last week in a 2-year-old girl and a 4-year-old boy who reside in southern Taiwan and a 15-year-old boy who resides in eastern Taiwan.　All 3 cases subsequently developed symptoms, including cough, runny nose, fever and limb weaknesses in late December 2017. Infection with enterovirus D68 was confirmed in all 3 cases. As of now, all 3 cases are hospitalized for treatment. Among the 27 cases of enterovirus D68 infection confirmed thus far, 11 cases were found to be cases of enterovirus infection with severe complications after case review.

Last year, a cumulative total of 23 cases of enterovirus infection with severe complications, including 1 death, respectively caused by enterovirus D68 (11 cases), CA 6 (3 cases), CA9 (2cases), enterovirus 71 (2 cases), CB3 (2 cases), echovirus 5 (2 cases), and CA 2 (1 case) were confirmed.

Currently, there is no effective vaccine to prevent or drug to treat enterovirus D68 infection. Therefore, the public is once again urged to practice good personal hygiene, wash hands with soap and water properly and frequently, and rest at home while sick. If a child in the family develops prodromal symptoms of complications such as flaccid paralysis, limb weakness, drowsiness, disturbed consciousness, inactivity, myoclonic jerk, continuous vomiting, tachypnea, and tachycardia, please ensure the child receive medical assistance at a large hospital as soon as possible.　 For more information, please visit the Taiwan CDC website at http://www.cdc.gov.tw or call the toll-free Communicable Disease Reporting and Consultation Hotline, 1922 (or 0800-001922).