The Center for Disease Control has confirmed that the death of a five-year-old boy in Hsinchu on Saturday was due to an enterovirus infection, Taiwan's first and only enterovirus death last year.
The victim fell ill on the Dec. 27 after showing symptoms such as vomiting, coughing and running a fever. He died three days later of heart and lung failure. None of the children in the victim's kindergarten class nor his primary school-aged sister are displaying any signs of falling sick.
The CDC's surveillance division's acting director, Tseng Shu-hui (
"Enterovirus is an umbrella term," Tseng explained. "It could be either EV 71 or Coxsackievirus. We don't know yet."
Tseng said that reported cases and deaths from enterovirus were down last year, with only 47 reported cases, compared with 142 last year -- and only one death compared to 16 the year before.
"Personal hygiene measures such as handwashing are the most effective way to avoid getting sick," Tseng said. "Parents should also be vigilant because providing medical care earlier could make a big difference."
Children five and under are most vulnerable to the disease, Tseng said.
Unlike enterovirus infections, however, last year's reported influenza cases reached a three-year high, Tseng said.
"We've found that while young people are not thought of as being in a high-risk group, their busy social lives means that they are frequently exposed to the virus," Tseng said, adding that "the only death from influenza last year was that of a teenager."
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