The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) yesterday said enterovirus activity remained high, with 26,426 hospital visits last week, and a second local case of measles was confirmed on Monday — a man who had close contact with the first case reported last week.
Enterovirus hospital visit numbers were still high, but they were about the same level as the previous week, CDC Epidemic Intelligence Center Director Guo Hung-wei (郭宏偉) said.
While small children aged four or younger accounted for most of the cases at 45.8 percent, the percentage of older children aged 10 to 14 who were infected have increased slightly over the past few weeks, Guo said.
Photo: CNA
CDC Deputy Director-General and spokesperson Tseng Shu-hui (曾淑慧) said no severe enterovirus cases were reported last week, but with hospital visits remaining high, the center’s simulation model predicts the peak would fall in the middle of this month, with possibly up to 30,000 hospital visits per week.
National Taiwan University Hospital’s Pediatric Infection Disease Division director Lu Chun-yi (呂俊毅) said that the number of severe enterovirus cases and deaths have been relatively low this year, but with the forecast increase in infections, caregivers should remain alert to signs of potential severe complications.
These signs include sleepiness, poor consciousness and low vitality — not the tiredness associated with a common cold, but including asymmetric limb weakness, he said.
Other signs include myoclonic jerks, or brief, sudden and involuntary muscle contractions or twitches, persistent vomiting, and rapid breathing or heartbeat, he said.
If a child with enterovirus infection shows any of these signs, which could imply neurological complications, their caregiver should immediately take them to a hospital for emergency treatment, he said.
There are more than 100 enteroviruses, so even if one has received an enterovirus 71 vaccine, they can still get infected with other strains, Lu said.
The disease is literally called “intestinal virus” (腸病毒) in Mandarin, but enterovirus infection is not gastroenteritis, so it would not cause gastrointestinal symptoms, he said, adding that common symptoms of enterovirus infection include oral ulcers and blisters on the hands and feet.
Enterovirus infection can be effectively prevented by thoroughly washing hands with soap, scrubbing all surfaces of the hands for at least 20 seconds, he said.
Using alcohol-based hand sanitizers is less effective, but can still reduce germs and the viral load, so it is an option only when water and soap are not available, he said.
Meanwhile, Gou said a new case of locally acquired measles was confirmed on Monday — a man in his 20s living in northern Taiwan who shared an apartment with the first case — a man in his 30s — reported on Friday last week.
CDC physician Lin Yung-ching (林詠青) said the latest case first exhibited cold-like symptoms and later developed rashes from the face to the torso and limbs.
Measles is a highly contagious viral disease, and a person with measles can on average infect 12 to 18 people who are not immune to the disease, he said.
After being diagnosed with measles, the man is self-isolating at home, Guo said.
Tseng said the two cases are considered a cluster, and 328 people who have had close contact with them would be monitored for symptoms until Dec. 21.
They should avoid having close contact with infants, pregnant women and people with weaker immunity during this period, she said.
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