Coxsackievirus A6 Infections in Taiwan

DOI: 10.6525/TEB.20151110.31(21).002

Yuan-Pin Huang^＊, Tsuey-Li Lin, Ho-Sheng Wu

2015 Vol.31 NO.21

Correspondence Author： Yuan-Pin Huang^＊

Abstract：

Based on the surveillance data from the contract laboratories of Taiwan Centers for Disease Control, several large outbreaks of enterovirus infection associated with Coxsackievirus A6 (CA6) took place in the years 2009, 2010 and 2013 in Taiwan. In addition, a small CA6 outbreak was also observed, which began by the end of 2014 and continued in 2015. We detected a mutant strain of CA6, which started circulating in Taiwan in 2010. Patients’ symptoms associated with this mutant strain were different, predominately hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) with large vesicles, onychomadesis, and desquamation but not herpangina. Although CA6 is not highly prevalent currently, the epidemic occurred a few times in the past several years. Continued monitoring of CA6, especially the mutant strain, is needed to reduce the impactof CA6 epidemic.