Taiwan: HFMD cases

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/local/offshore islands/2008/05/20/157192/Lanyu%2Dholds.htm

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Lanyu holds enterovirus disinfection

CNA

LANYU, Taiwan -- An island-wide disinfection drive was conducted in Lanyu, also known as Orchid Island, yesterday following the report of a fatal case of suspected enterovirus

The Health Bureau under the Taitung county government offered help to all public offices and households in Lanyu, which is located off the coast of the county in eastern Taiwan, to facilitate disinfection following the death Sunday of a 15-month-old baby girl who had shown symptoms of enterovirus.

The baby, a child of indigenous parents, showed symptoms of foot and-mouth disease on May 15 and was admitted into the Lanyu Public Health Office on May 16 after developing a fever.

The child was ferried to Taitung County and checked into the local Mackay Memorial Hospital Sunday after she fell unconscious and suffered from a plummeting blood pressure. She died at the hospital Sunday afternoon.

The Taitung County Health Bureau has taken samples of the deceased child for further examination and analysis to determine if she died of enterovirus.

More than 30 cases of suspected enterovirus have been reported throughout Lanyu over the past several days, including three first graders who have shown foot-and-mouth disease symptoms, according to the bureau officials.

Officials noted that since all four elementary schools in Lanyu have already been sterilized, it is up to the Taitung County Education Bureau, kindergartens and elementary schools in Lanyu to decide whether the schools should be closed in the face of a suspected outbreak of enterovirus on the small island.

The death of the Lanyu baby girl would be the third death in Taiwan this year due to enterovirus if it is confirmed as enterovirus.

The first enterovirus death occurred in March in Yunlin County, central Taiwan, and the second occurred in early May in the southern Taiwanese county of Kaohsiung, according to Cabinet-level Department of Health.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Taiwan: HFMD cases

Source: http://english.rti.org.tw/Content/GetSingleNews.aspx?ContentID=58560
05/26/2008

Epidemic control center set up on Lanyu

The government has opened an enterovirus epidemic control center on the island of Lanyu, also known as Orchid Island, off the coast of southeastern Taiwan, after a fatal case was reported there.

All Lanyu residents have been on the alert against a possible outbreak since a 15-month-old girl there was confirmed Friday to have died of enterovirus infection. The island also recorded more than 30 other cases of suspected enterovirus infection.

Taiwan's Center for Disease Control has confirmed over 100 severe enterovirus cases since the start of this year, four of which have proved fatal.

Health authorities are concerned that Taiwan might see a major enterovirus outbreak this year.

 

[Treyfish]

Re: Taiwan: HFMD cases

<HR style="COLOR: #cccccc" SIZE=1> <!-- / icon and title --><!-- message -->
South central Taiwan north enteritis moves
2008-06-05 17:33

[on.cc special news]Taiwan's enteritis epidemic disease continues to extend, last week had 23 new cases, accumulation critically ill has 136, some 4 dead. Although has notified the case concentrates much in south central, but north also starts to spread the case. A Taibei County Banqiao Danshui Town nursery spreads has 2 schoolchildren to catch an illness, but the school authorities have not had the notification, after the guardian reported to the authorities only then notifies.
:tiphat: http://svsurl.systransoft.com/?t=out...a523577cc-2528

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Taiwan: HFMD cases

Source: http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2008/06/07/2003414095

Use diluted bleach to tackle enterovirus, officials say

STAFF WRITER, WITH CNA
Saturday, Jun 07, 2008, Page 4

Health officials suggested yesterday that people use diluted household bleaching agents to keep their homes clean and combat the threat of enterovirus, instead of ethanol-based products that do not kill the potentially lethal infant virus.

Officials at the Taoyuan County Public Health Bureau suggested using bleach to keep children safe because of statistics showing that 70 percent of patients affected by the flu-like disease this year were infants and toddlers.

The officials believe that the victims did not catch the disease in kindergartens because they were all pre-schoolers, and therefore could have been infected after coming into contact with their parents, other adult relatives or older children at home.

The Centers for Disease Control?s (CDC) statistics on enterovirus outbreaks this year showed that there were 136 confirmed serious cases reported as of June 3, of which four have resulted in death.

The tallies show that 133 of the patients contracted Enterovirus Type 71 (EV 71) ? a fatal strain that has spread to the nation from other Southeast Asian countries.

In comparison, there were 10 cases recorded in the same period last year, with one death, the CDC said.

Major enterovirus outbreaks occur roughly once every 10 years and the CDC has warned that this year could be part of that cycle.

Since ethyl alcohol cannot kill the virus, officials in the northern county suggested adding 20 milliliters of household bleach containing chlorine to 5 liters of tap water as a disinfectant when housecleaning.

The handy disinfectant can be applied to objects that young children often touch, such as door handles, tables, chairs, toys and books, to decrease their risk of contracting the virus.

Enterovirus is a common cause of diseases such as meningitis and miocarditis. The flu-like illness is usually contracted through direct contact with contaminated sources.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Taiwan: HFMD cases

Source: http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/.../2008/06/09/160125/Enterovirus-prevention.htm

Monday, June 9, 2008

Enterovirus prevention center to be established

CNA

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- A national enterovirus prevention center will be established as part of government's efforts to curb the spread of the disease, Health Minister Lin Fang-yue said yesterday.

The Department of Health (DOH) will convene its first meeting today on the center's establishment amid jitters about enterovirus after four deaths from the disease were reported, Lin said during a fact-finding trip to the southern county of Kaohsiung.

DOH officials will review the existing budget policy on enterovirus control and prevention, as well as discuss any possible new ways of curing the disease to which young children are prone, Lin said after visiting a pediatric ICU ward at Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital.

"The country could use new ways of thinking to battle the disease, although conventional ways of treatment are effective," Lin said.

"So far, the battle against the disease has been won, even though four children have died," he added.

The scourge of serious type EV71 enterovirus this year first occurred in Kaohsiung city and County and in Pingtung city and county, gradually spreading northward, with the number of confirmed cases rising swiftly in two weeks to 107 last month, while fatalities had doubled from two to four by the end of May.

Lin urged medical personnel and parents of infected young children to remain patient, as it takes time and patience to allow those affected to recover, pointing out that EV71 not only attacks the child's respiratory system but can also injure the child's cardiac and nervous systems.

In 1998, Taiwan recorded 405 serious EV71 cases, 78 of which were fatal. The number of serious cases has since declined. In 2000, only a few cases were documented and there have been no serious enterovirus outbreaks reported since 2005.

Enterovirus is the most common cause of aseptic meningitis and can cause serious disease, especially in infants and the immuno-compromised.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Taiwan: HFMD cases

Source: http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/national/national news/2008/06/11/160429/CDC-reports.htm
Wednesday, June 11, 2008

CDC reports 5th enterovirus fatality this year

The China Post news staff

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reported yesterday the fifth victim so far of serious enterovirus infection this year while eight other children are still battling the disease.

The latest victim was a two year old boy who had probably been infected by his older sister in the central county of Taichung, said Chou Jih-haw, deputy director of the CDC under the Department of Health (DOH).

The fifth fatal case involving the deadly disease prompted the DOH to formally activate an enterovirus epidemic command center headed by DOH chief Lin Fang-yue to contain the further spread of the disease.

Enterovirus is a virus that enters the body through the gastrointestinal tract and thrives there. The virus is the most common cause of aseptic meningitis and can cause serious illness, especially in infants, children under the age of five, and the immune compromised.

Taiwan could experience a major enterovirus outbreak once every 10 years and 2008 could be part of that cycle.

In 1998, there were 405 serious EV71 cases recorded throughout Taiwan, 78 of which were fatal.

The number of serious cases has since declined. In 2000, only a few cases were documented and there have been no serious enterovirus outbreaks reported since 2005.

Chou said the infected toddler was brought to the hospital on June 3 after noticing symptoms. But he became the first fatal case in Taichung County of central Taiwan on Monday.

This case indicated that the disease has been gradually spreading from the southern parts of the island to the north.

The country's fourth enterovirus-related fatality was reported recently in late May.

There have been 176 confirmed enterovirus cases so far this year and eight children, mostly under 5, are presently still in intensive care units at several different hospitals.

The victims, mostly under age 5, were infected mainly with the same enterovirus strain -- EV71.

Some medical experts said the number of serious EV71 cases could probably surge to 300 by the end of June.

The spread of the disease tends to peak in mid-June, they said.

The scourge of serious type EV71 enterovirus outbreaks this year first occurred in Kaohsiung city and county and in Pingtung city and county, gradually spreading northward.

The enterovirus epidemic command center will enforce containment by suspending classes at infected schools while launching campaigns to promote public awareness and ways to avoid infection.

Any classroom, daycare center or kindergarten that report two enterovirus cases should be closed for one week to be disinfected.

A total of 368 classes were suspended temporarily during the past five months due to classmates' infection with the disease.

There are currently 69 classes in suspension.

Medical workers who fail to report the disease cases to the authorities and schools or kindergartens that fail to comply with the rules of temporary shutdown of operations will be penalized, and possibly fined.

CDC officials expected the spread of the virus among schoolchildren and the suspension of classes will soon be sharply reduced when the schools start the summer break.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Taiwan: HFMD cases

Source: http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/local/changhua/2008/09/10/173970/Taiwan-sees.htm

Taiwan sees 11th enterovirus casualty

CNA
Wednesday, September 10, 2008

CHANGHUA, Taiwan -- The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reported yesterday Taiwan's 11th death from enterovirus infection so far this year -- a two year-old boy in the central county of Changhua.

According to CDC Deputy Director-General Shih Wen-yi, the case was a sporadic one because the enterovirus season is not at a peak in the county.

"The public should not panic too much because of this case, " Shih said.

The latest victim came down with a fever, vomiting and vesicular eruptions in the mouth Aug. 26 and was hospitalized Aug. 29, when he further developed a skin rash. The boy was discharged from hospital two days later, according to a report provided by Changhua health authorities.

However, on Sept. 1, the boy was again hospitalized after he took a sudden turn for the worse. He died Sept. 4, the authorities said.

CDC statistics showed that from the start of this year to Sept. 8, a total of 352 severe enterovirus infections were recorded in the county, 11 of which were fatal and 93 percent of which were caused by enterovirus type 71 (EV71).

Of these 352 cases, 97 involved one-year olds, 96 affected two-year-olds and 63 were children under the age of one, the statistics showed.

The largest number of cases occurred in the central and southern parts of Taiwan, with 49 cases in Tainan County and 48 in Changhua County, according to the CDC.

While this year's enterovirus outbreak slowed down noticeably following the start of the summer vacation in July, a new peak was expected after school reopened this month.

Shih however said no suspected cases of severe enterovirus infection have been reported since Sept. 1, which indicated that the expected peak has not occurred.

Shih reminded the public that sporadic enterovirus infections can occur in Taiwan even when the virus is not in season and he advised people to maintain good hygiene to prevent infection and avoid passing the virus to young children in their families.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Taiwan: HFMD cases

Source: http://www.etaiwannews.com/etn/news...&cate_img=49.jpg&cate_rss=news_Society_TAIWAN

DOH reports 13th enterovirus fatality this year

Central News Agency
2008-09-23 12:21 PM

The Department of Health (DOH) reported Monday the first fatality from enterovirus since schools around the country opened early this month.

Shih Wen-yi, deputy director of the DOH's Centers for Disease Control, said that the patient was a four-year-old boy in Yunlin County in south-central Taiwan.

He has become the 13th enterovirus fatality this year, with the others dying in the late spring months when fears over the virusgripped Taiwan.

Shih said the boy did not go to kindergarten Sept. 18 after he became ill. He was resting at home the following day but attended an evening performance at the kindergarten that night.

He later developed symptoms that included twittering, high blood pressure and ventricular flutter and was sent to a Yunlin hospital for treatment.

With his condition not improving, he was transferred to a medical center in Changhua. He was pronounced dead Sept. 20.

"The samples taken from the boy tested negative. But since the progress of the boy's illness was so fast, the DOH concluded that he died before his body developed antibodies," Shih added.

Shih said that some might think that the threat of the enterovirus has decreased with the onset of fall, but he said that the disease could still strike and urged parents and teachers to remind small children to "wash hands frequently" as a precaution to protect themselves against the disease.

The parents and teachers should also be on guard if children under 5 have the typical symptoms of a serious case of enterovirus disease -- fever, foot-mouth disease, twittering and drowsiness.

Enterovirus is the most common cause of aseptic meningitis and can cause serious illness, especially in infants and the immunocompromised.

The most recent outbreak occurred in Taiwan during April-July 1998.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Taiwan: HFMD cases

Source: http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/national/national news/2008/10/08/177729/14th-enterovirus.htm

14th enterovirus fatality reported for this year
CNA
Wednesday, October 8, 2008 9:39 am

TAIPEI, Taiwan ?? The Department of Health (DOH) reported yesterday the 14th fatality from enterovirus this year, confirming the death of an eight-month-old boy affected by enterovirus 71 (EV71), which can cause severe neurological damage.

Lin Ting, deputy director of the DOH?s Centers for Disease Control, said the patient became ill on May 30, and was taken to a local clinic for medical treatment the next day.

Without showing signs of getting well, the boy was transferred to a medical center on June 1, where he was admitted to an intensive-care ward. The following day, he was put on the extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ecmo) life support system.

The system was removed on June 5, but the boy remained in critical condition, Lin said.

The patient, suffering from damage to the central nervous system of the brain, was transferred to a health care center on July 4, where he succumbed to the disease, passing away on Sept. 21, Lin noted. With rising public awareness about the outbreaks of the epidemic this year, only 13 suspected cases were reported as of Tuesday since Sept. 1, five of which were confirmed, according to Lin.