TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Centers for Disease Control announced on Tuesday the first confirmed imported Zika virus infection of the year.
The patient is a Taiwanese man in his 30s who returned from Thailand in mid-June and later developed symptoms including fever, dizziness, and headache. He developed a rash in late June and sought medical attention, per a CDC press release.
After testing was conducted, he was confirmed to have the Zika virus. Authorities said the patient's contacts and cohabitants have been contacted and are asymptomatic. They have been provided with Zika information, while authorities have carried out environmental source reduction measures.
Since 2016, Taiwan has confirmed 31 Zika cases, all of which were imported from overseas. Most infections originated in Southeast Asia, accounting for 81% of cases. Thailand recorded the highest number of imported cases with eight, followed by Vietnam with six. The Philippines, Myanmar, and Malaysia each reported three cases linked to Taiwan infections, while the Maldives reported two.
Zika virus transmission has been reported in at least 97 countries since 2016. The current incidence rate is far below its peak, and about 80% of infected individuals do not develop symptoms. Health authorities said the Zika virus can be transmitted through mosquito bites, sexual contact, and from mother to child during pregnancy, per the press release.
Adults infected with Zika generally experience mild symptoms, including fever, rash, arthritis, and joint pain. The symptoms are similar to, but typically milder than, those caused by dengue fever. Zika infection during pregnancy can cause serious complications, including microcephaly or fetal death. The CDC advised pregnant women and women planning to become pregnant to postpone travel to Zika-endemic areas.
Those who must travel to affected regions should take precautions against mosquito bites, including wearing light-colored long-sleeved clothing, applying government-approved mosquito repellent to exposed skin, and staying in accommodations with window and door screens or air conditioning.
The CDC urged people returning from Zika-affected areas who suspect infection to contact airport quarantine personnel. Anyone experiencing symptoms within two weeks of returning to Taiwan should seek medical attention immediately and inform healthcare providers of their travel history.
More information is available on the CDC website or by calling Taiwan's epidemic prevention hotline at 1922 or 0800-001922.
