NewsDesk @bactiman63

In a follow-up on the Naegleria fowleri case recently reported in Taiwan, the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control and Prevention invited relevant experts and local government health bureaus to hold a discussion meeting today to discuss various prevention and control measures and consider the national prevention and control measures of the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan, etc., and provide enhanced prevention and control suggestions as follows:

Naegleria (cropped)/CDC

1. This afternoon, the Department, together with experts and local governments, visited the indoor hydrophilic facilities where the case had been, and inspected the entire facility in detail If necessary, conduct further investigations.

2. Appeal to relevant businesses to implement business sanitation management matters, including pool sanitation management, free residual chlorine to meet 1-3ppm, etc., and complete relevant self-sanitary management measures.

3. The industry is requested to provide a list of people who have visited the site for recreation from July 21 to August 9, and the local government will conduct follow-up care until 14 days after the last exposure date.

4. The operator of the water-friendly facility has closed down preventively and carried out environmental cleaning on August 9. The operator can only resume business after completing the environmental cleaning and obtaining the approval of the local competent authority.

5. Issue a circular to the medical community, urging physicians to intensify inquiries about exposure history of hydrophilic facilities in cases of suspected symptoms, and strengthen public health education and publicity.

The CDC pointed out that Naegleria fowleri is a single-celled parasite that naturally lives in freshwater lakes and rivers. Although it is common in natural water bodies, the probability of causing human infection is extremely low. The water facilities will conduct environmental inspections to clarify the source of infection, and the local health unit and the CDC will conduct the inspections respectively. It is expected that the preliminary inspection results will be available in about 3-4 days.

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention appeals that Naegleria fowleri is more likely to occur in summer, and the public should avoid water entering the nasal cavity when playing in water or soaking in hot springs, or avoid soaking their heads in water and play in natural waters. When swimming, you should also avoid stirring the bottom pool water or silt; if you have fever, headache, nausea or vomiting after playing in the water or soaking in hot springs, you should seek medical treatment as soon as possible and inform the medical staff of the relevant contact history. At the same time, the Department calls on the relevant business premises to implement business hygiene management matters, including pool hygiene management, free residual chlorine levels complying with 1-3ppm, etc., and complete relevant self-sanitary management measures.