TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Centers for Disease Control reported on Tuesday an abnormal spike in enterovirus cases last week, with authorities warning of the spread until after winter break.

CDC Spokesperson Tseng Shu-hui said (曾淑慧) from Nov. 9–15, there were 11,223 outpatient and emergency visits for enterovirus, a 3.9% increase from the previous week, per CNA.

CDC physician Lin Yung-ching (林詠青) said a 1-month-old female infant infected with echovirus 11 died two days after symptom onset. He said the infant showed severe sepsis-like symptoms, including low blood pressure and not very much of an appetite.

Lin said most cases remain mild, but the outbreak is rising due to household and community transmission, as adults often show no symptoms while infants are more vulnerable.

This year’s enterovirus season arrived unusually late, with minimal summer circulation. The dominant strain initially was echovirus 11, now shifting to coxsackie A types, causing hand-foot-mouth disease and pharyngitis in young children.

In the first ten months of this year, 19 severe enterovirus cases have been reported, the highest in six years. Li urged the public to watch for early warning signs of enterovirus in young children.