The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) on Tuesday said that 25,859 visits were made to hospital outpatient services and emergency rooms for enterovirus infections in Taiwan last week, up 2 percent from the previous week.
The CDC added that eight new cases of enterovirus 71 (EV71) infections were confirmed in Taipei and Taichung, as well as Yilan and Hualien counties.
It also said one new infection with severe complications involved a 16-month-old boy, adding that the boy has recovered and has been discharged from hospital.
So far this year, 60 cases of EV71 infections, including 49 mild cases, three suspected severe cases and six severe cases, have been confirmed in Taiwan, according to the CDC.
Sixty-four suspected cases of severe enterovirus infection have been reported, with six found to be EV71, 43 testing negative for enterovirus, and the test results for 15 cases still pending, the CDC said.
Coxsackie A virus is the dominant strain of enterovirus now circulating in the nation, the CDC said.
Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore and China have all reported increasing or high levels of enterovirus activity this year compared with last year. Vietnam and Japan have reported the same or lower levels of enterovirus activity.
As severe cases progress rapidly, if a child is diagnosed with an enterovirus infection, parents and caregivers should keep the child away from close contact with other children, the CDC said.
Adults are advised to watch for prodromal symptoms of severe enterovirus infections such as drowsiness, disturbed consciousness, inactivity, flaccid paralysis, involuntary twitching, continuous vomiting, abnormally rapid breathing or an abnormally rapid heartbeat, the CDC said.
Caretakers and parents are advised to ensure that playgrounds and other facilities are disinfected and cleaned once per day and to remind children to wash their hands with soap and water before and after playing.
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