The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) yesterday reported the first case of measles contracted in New Zealand, as it warned that this is still the peak period for enterovirus infections.
A man in his 20s living in southern Taiwan who visited New Zealand with his family from Aug. 14 to Aug. 24 developed a fever on Sept. 1 and sought medical attention at clinics three times before he developed a rash and sought treatment at a hospital on Sept. 5 and again on Sept. 7.
On his last visit, he was finally confirmed to have measles and hospitalized.
Photo: CNA
CDC physician Huang Wan-ting (黃婉婷) said the man had initially been diagnosed with a cold and a viral infection.
He is now back home, while the 601 people who had direct contact with him during the communicable period for measles will continue to be monitored until Wednesday next week, Huang said.
CDC Deputy Director-General Philip Lo (羅一鈞) said doctors might have erred in their initial diagnoses because most cases of imported measles have come from Southeast Asia, Europe or the US, so the doctors did not suspect measles even when the man told them he had recently visited New Zealand.
New Zealand is facing its worst measles outbreak in more than 22 years, with a total of 1,275 cases confirmed as of Friday, 165 cases in the past week alone, Huang said.
The CDC has issued a level-one travel notice — the “Watch” level — for measles in New Zealand, she added.
On the enterovirus front, CDC Epidemic Intelligence Center Deputy Director Guo Hung-wei (郭宏偉) said 20,585 hospital and clinic visits related to the virus were reported last week, a 6.5 percent increase from the week before, showing the disease is still in its peak period.
A total of 243 classes were suspended last week due to enterovirus infections, 194 at preschools, 26 at elementary schools and 23 at nursery schools.
The enterovirus outbreak is expected to continue until the middle of next month, so parents and people who work with young children should be especially alert for signs of suspected symptoms in children.
Temperatures in northern Taiwan are forecast to reach as high as 30°C today, as an ongoing northeasterly seasonal wind system weakens, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. CWA forecaster Tseng Chao-cheng (曾昭誠) said yesterday that with the seasonal wind system weakening, warmer easterly winds would boost the temperature today. Daytime temperatures in northern Taiwan and Yilan County are expected to range from 28°C to 30°C today, up about 3°C from yesterday, Tseng said. According to the CWA, temperature highs in central and southern Taiwan could stay stable. However, the weather is expected to turn cooler starting tonight as the northeasterly wind system strengthens again
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) yesterday expressed “grave concerns” after Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong (黃循財) reiterated the city-state’s opposition to “Taiwanese independence” during a meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang (李強). In Singapore on Saturday, Wong and Li discussed cross-strait developments, the Singaporean Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. “Prime Minister Wong reiterated that Singapore has a clear and consistent ‘one China’ policy and is opposed to Taiwan independence,” it said. MOFA responded that it is an objective fact and a common understanding shared by many that the Republic of China (ROC) is an independent, sovereign nation, with world-leading
COOLING OFF: Temperatures are expected to fall to lows of about 20°C on Sunday and possibly 18°C to 19°C next week, following a wave of northeasterly winds on Friday The Central Weather Administration (CWA) on Sunday forecast more rain and cooler temperatures for northern Taiwan this week, with the mercury dropping to lows of 18°C, as another wave of northeasterly winds sweeps across the country. The current northeasterly winds would continue to affect Taiwan through today, with precipitation peaking today, bringing increased rainfall to windward areas, CWA forecaster Liu Pei-teng (劉沛滕) said. The weather system would weaken slightly tomorrow before another, stronger wave arrives on Friday, lasting into next week, Liu said. From yesterday to today, northern Taiwan can expect cool, wet weather, with lows of 22°C to 23°C in most areas,
DEFENDING FREEDOM: Taiwanese love peace and helping others, and hope to be a positive force in the world, Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim told ‘Weltspiegel’ Taiwan is making every effort to prevent war in the face of China’s hybrid coercion tactics and military threats, Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) said in an interview with German public broadcaster ARD’s program Weltspiegel that aired on Monday. Taiwan is not seeking provocation or intending to disrupt international order, but “must possess the capacity for self-defense,” a news release issued by the Presidential Office yesterday quoted her as saying. Taiwan is closely watching not only the increasing scope and frequency of Chinese military exercises around the nation, but also Beijing’s hybrid and cognitive warfare tactics, including manipulating public opinion, fostering
RSS