NewsDesk @bactiman63

Taiwan’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Taiwan CDC) reported today the first severe enterovirus D68 case of the year.

Enterovirus D68/CDC

The patient, a 4-year-old girl in southern Taiwan, developed a mild cough and runny nose symptoms on January 5 and did not seek medical attention. On the 7th, she developed symptoms such as fever, shortness of breath, and abdominal pain and went to the doctor. She went to the doctor again the next day because the symptoms were not relieved.

After examination,  exacerbation of asthma and myocarditis was reported and she was transferred to the intensive care unit for continuous treatment. Testing confirmed she was infected with enterovirus D68. The hospital reported that enterovirus infection was complicated by severe illness. After treatment, the patient was in stable condition and was discharged from the hospital. She has now returned to normal life.

According to the monitoring data of the CDC, as of February 6, 2023, last week (January 29, 2023 to February 4, 2023), there were a total of 1,330 outpatient and emergency visits to enterovirus in Taiwan, compared with the previous week (933) The increase was 42.6%, mainly due to the resumption of outpatient visits after the Spring Festival holiday, but it was still lower than the second to third weeks before the Spring Festival (1824 and 2032 visits), and the recent contract laboratory monitoring still detected enteroviruses, showing that the community Enterovirus activity continues in Taiwan.

Schools at all levels will reopen next week. The resumption of active student activities may increase the risk of epidemic transmission.

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The CDC reminds the public that enterovirus D68 is transmitted through fecal-oral, droplet, or contact. The symptoms are mainly fever, runny nose, and cough, which are not as common as herpetic angina or hand-foot-mouth disease, which are common with typical enteroviruses. Similarly, a small number of patients may develop complications such as pneumonia, encephalitis, and limb paralysis.

Currently, there is no vaccine or drug available for prevention and treatment. The most effective prevention methods are good hand hygiene and cough etiquette, and reducing access to crowded public places. place, implement measures such as resting at home when sick; if a child at home is found to have limb weakness and paralysis, or drowsiness, unconsciousness, poor vitality, weakness of hands and feet, muscle twitching (unexplained fright or sudden muscle contraction of the whole body), persistent vomiting and if you have severe symptoms such as shortness of breath or rapid heartbeat, please seek medical treatment in a major hospital as soon as possible.