In the face of the upcoming peak season for enterovirus that claimed the lives of four schoolchildren last year, the Department of Health will launch a health education campaign in 110 kindergartens and elementary schools today to prevent a full-blown epidemic.
Up to now, 17 severe cases of enterovirus infection have been reported nationwide and one person had died, according to the latest statistics from the Center for Disease Control (CDC). Only one child among the reported 17 cases is above the age of four. Last week, the CDC was informed of two cases in central Taiwan.
"The latest two cases we found out about last week are two two-year-old toddlers in Yunlin County and Taichung County," CDC Deputy Director Chou Jih-haw (周志浩) said.
The two toddlers suspected to be infected with enterovirus were transferred from an intensive care unit to normal wards yesterday, health officials said.
"These two babies are on the mend. We are still waiting for results of their specimen analyses from the lab. But we can almost confirm them as enterovirus cases from the typical symptoms they exhibit," said Wu Ping-fuai (吳炳輝), the director of the CDC's division of quarantine and intervention activities.
Like other toddlers stricken with the viral infection, the youngsters experienced fever, rapid irregular heartbeat and hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD), in which infection produces painful blisters in the month, on the palms and fingers, or on the soles of the feet.
Most babies recover from the common childhood illness after medication. Some babies who contract encephalitis or become paralyzed, however, do not fully recover. Some cases can even deteriorate into acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis, herpangina, aseptic meningitis, and eventually death.
"The emphasis of the campaign will be on kids. Infants, children and adolescents are more likely to be susceptible to enterovirus-induced ailments, since they are less likely to develop antibodies and become immune from previous exposure to the virus," Wu said.
Children may contract enterovirus by direct contact with saliva, sputum or nasal mucus from infected persons. They are also at risk when they touch contaminated surfaces or objects, such as a drinking glass or telephone. Parents, teachers and childcare workers may also become infected through contamination from an infected infant or toddler's stools during diaper changes.
In collaboration with McDonald's Co in Taiwan, the CDC will put up signs in the popular fast-food chain's outlets to teach kids to wash their hands before meals.
In kindergarten and schools, posters will be put up and teachers are urged to take care of campus sanitation and children's eating habits.
Health officials believe that the education campaign every year has helped drive down the mortality rate among infected children.
For example, the number of children dying from enterovirus infection dropped from eight in 2003 to four last year.
"The death rate among patients with severe enterovirus in 1999 was 26 percent, but the figure dropped to 8 percent last year. We will push ahead with the education campaign and magnify its outreach next year," Wu said.
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