Print

Mail

wiki links

Four serious enterovirus cases confirmed

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) confirmed four more cases of severe enteroviral infection yesterday, bringing the total number of cases to 208 this year.

The new cases included one in Hualien County — the first recorded there this year, Centers for Disease Control Deputy Director-General Chou Chih-hau (周志浩) said.

Chou said the four children developed symptoms of the disease early this month and three were treated and discharged from hospitals. The fourth is expected to be released soon.

The center has confirmed seven fatalities from severe enteroviral infection this year and is trying to determine if a 34-month-old Chiayi County boy who died on Wednesday had the virus.

Chou said the boy fell ill on Sunday but was not taken to hospital until Tuesday, adding that he had displayed symptoms of a severe enteroviral infection such as hand-foot-mouth disease — repeated jerky limb movements and drowsiness.

The results of the tests would not be available until today at the earliest, Chou said.

The center said almost all serious enterovirus cases recorded this year were caused by enterovirus 71 (EV71) and that all those infected were under the age of five, except for a 14-year-old in Hsinchu City.

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislative caucus has urged the government to come up with an effective plan for fighting the enterovirus as quickly as possible.

“I think the government should take care of this and come up with sufficient resolution as soon as possible,” caucus whip William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday morning.

ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY JIMMY CHUANG
This story has been viewed 1366 times.