TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s Centers for Disease Control said Tuesday it expects enterovirus transmission to rise as schools resume classes following the Lunar New Year holiday.
The CDC said increased interaction among schoolchildren, as well as contact with infants and young children at home, could drive a spike in cases, per a press release.
The agency urged childcare institutions and parents to reinforce proper hygiene practices, including thorough handwashing with soap, and to ensure adequate ventilation, cleaning, and disinfection at home and in schools. Children diagnosed with enterovirus should rest at home and avoid contact with others to reduce the risk of cross-infection, the CDC said.
CDC data show that enterovirus activity in Taiwan is currently at a low point, though the risk of community transmission remains. From Feb. 15 to Feb. 21, there were 1,856 outpatient and emergency room visits related to enterovirus, a 64.7% decrease from the previous week.
The CDC attributed the drop to the Lunar New Year holiday, when many clinics were closed, and said further observation is needed to assess the epidemic’s development.
No confirmed cases of severe enterovirus infection have been reported this year. Laboratory surveillance over the past four weeks found Coxsackievirus A6 to be the most prevalent strain in the community, followed by Coxsackievirus A4 and Coxsackievirus A16.
Regionally, the CDC said enterovirus activity in China continues to decline but remains higher than in recent years. Vietnam experienced a severe outbreak last year, particularly in Ho Chi Minh City. Although cases there have trended downward since the start of this year, authorities said the risk of severe illness in children caused by enterovirus 71 still warrants close monitoring.
Enterovirus activity in Japan, South Korea, and Singapore is currently low or stable, while Hong Kong has reported a fluctuating upward trend from a recent low point.
With people returning from travel and family visits and schools gradually reopening, the CDC urged the public to monitor the health of infants and young children closely. Parents should be alert for early warning signs of severe enterovirus infection, including drowsiness, altered mental status, lethargy, limb weakness, myoclonic jerks, persistent vomiting, rapid breathing, or a rapid heartbeat.
Children exhibiting such symptoms should seek immediate care at a major hospital.
The CDC noted that enteroviruses are highly contagious. While young children are most affected, teenagers and adults can also be infected, often with mild symptoms that resemble a common cold.
Frequent handwashing with soap remains the most effective preventive measure. The CDC encouraged parents and childcare providers to teach children the five-step method of “wet, lather, rinse, and dry,” particularly after visiting crowded indoor venues such as daycare centers, after-school programs and playgrounds.
Officials also cautioned that alcohol-based sanitizers have limited effectiveness against enteroviruses. Instead, they recommend regular environmental disinfection using a 500 parts-per-million chlorine bleach solution, prepared by mixing 100 milliliters of household bleach with 10 liters of water.
More information is available on the CDC’s website or by calling the toll-free epidemic prevention hotline at 1922.
