Taiwan: Japanese Encephalitis 2011

[Missouriwatcher]

On June 13, 2011, the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) announced this year?s first confirmed case of Japanese encephalitis in Taiwan. The case is a sixty-three-year-old female who resides in Hunei District, Kaohsiung City. On June 4, she began to develop symptoms, including headache, disturbance of consciousness and neck stiffness. On June 7, she sought medical attention at a hospital and was reported to the health authority as a suspected Japanese encephalitis case. On June 10, Japanese encephalitis infection was confirmed in the case by Taiwan CDC. Currently, the case is experiencing speech problem and poor ability to respond. Nevertheless, her limbs remain functional and she continues to stay hospitalized for treatment. The case has no travel history during the recent three months. The health authority continues to monitor the situation very closely.

According to Taiwan CDC?s surveillance data, transmission of Japanese encephalitis in Taiwan occurs annually between May and October and it usually peaks between June and July. The incubation period for Japanese encephalitis is generally 5-15 days. In severe cases, psychological or neurological sequelae, and even death may occur. The primary vector of Japanese encephalitis is a species of mosquito, Culex tritaeniorhynchus. The vector mosquitoes are most active during dawn and dusk. Pigs act as the amplifying host for Japanese encephalitis.

Japanese encephalitis vaccine has been proven the most effective in preventing Japanese encephalitis...
http://www.cdc.gov.tw/ct.asp?xItem=34345&ctNode=960&mp=5

 

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Taiwan: Year?s First Japanese Encephalitis Case Confirmed

Re: Taiwan: Year?s First Japanese Encephalitis Case Confirmed

Pingtung announces year's first case of Japanese encephalitis
2011/07/12 22:12:57


Taipei, July 12 (CNA) The Public Health Bureau of the Pingtung County government in Southern Taiwan announced Tuesday its first case of Japanese encephalitis this year.

The victim, a 44-year-old woman residing in Pingtung City, was diagnosed with the mosquito-borne disease July 11, becoming the fourth person in Taiwan to contact the disease this year, said the bureau.

The woman began suffering from headache and fever July 4 and was hospitalized the next day, where tests confirmed that she had been infected, health officials said.

Inspections by the bureau revealed that the patient lived in proximity to rice paddies and chicken coops, which provide ideal breeding conditions for the culex mosquitoes that carry the disease.


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http://focustaiwan.tw/ShowNews/WebNews_Detail.aspx?Type=aLIV&ID=201107120046