The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) yesterday reported the first death from enterovirus this year, a baby girl younger than a month old in northern Taiwan.
On Feb. 16, the baby was hospitalized due to rapid breathing and decreased movement, which developed into a fever and breathing difficulties three days later.
She was put into a neonatal intensive care unit on Feb. 20.
Photo: Chiu Chih-jou, Taipei Times
The baby passed away on Sunday due to multiple organ failure and sepsis. Laboratory tests found that she had been infected with echovirus 11.
The baby was born at a healthy weight with no underlying conditions, but newborns are particularly susceptible to echovirus 11 due to their weak immune system, CDC Deputy Director-General and spokeswoman Tseng Shu-hui (曾淑慧) said, adding that the virus can come on suddenly.
Although cases of enterovirus are low in Taiwan, there still remains a risk, she said.
Tseng warned families with babies and pregnant women to regularly wash their hands with soap and to avoid contact with babies if they feel unwell.
Babies who are infected with enterovirus usually begin to show symptoms one to 14 days after birth, starting with a mild fever and decreased appetite, which could escalate to encephalitis, pneumonia and even organ failure, the CDC said.
Pregnant women experiencing fever, a cough or a sore throat up to 14 days before or after childbirth should alert healthcare professionals, it added.
CDC data showed that over the past four weeks, enterovirus A16, A6 and A2 have been spreading through the community.
The echovirus strain was also detected.
Enterovirus cases usually rise from March to April as the new school term starts, the CDC said, warning parents, childcare facilities and hospital nurseries to take precautions.
The occurrence of severe cases indicates ongoing community transmission, MacKay Children’s Hospital pediatrician Peng Chun-chih (彭純芝) said.
Expectant women are recommended to take note of their contact history up to two weeks before childbirth and to avoid visiting crowded public spaces, she added.
Taipei has once again made it to the top 100 in Oxford Economics’ Global Cities Index 2025 report, moving up five places from last year to 60. The annual index, which was published last month, evaluated 1,000 of the most populated metropolises based on five indices — economics, human capital, quality of life, environment and governance. New York maintained its top spot this year, placing first in the economics index thanks to the strength of its vibrant financial industry and economic stability. Taipei ranked 263rd in economics, 44th in human capital, 15th in quality of life, 284th for environment and 75th in governance,
The Sports Administration yesterday demanded an apology from the national table tennis association for barring 17-year-old Yeh Yi-tian (葉伊恬) from competing in the upcoming World Table Tennis (WTT) United States Smash tournament in Las Vegas this July. The sports agency said in a statement that the Chinese Taipei Table Tennis Association (CTTTA) must explain to the public why it withdrew Yeh from the WTT tournament in Las Vegas. The sports agency said it contacted the association to express its disapproval of the decision-making process after receiving a complaint from Yeh’s coach, Chuang
Control Yuan Secretary-General Lee Chun-yi (李俊俋) tendered his resignation last night, admitting that he had misused a government vehicle, as reported by media. His resignation was immediately accepted by the Control Yuan. In a statement explaining why he had resigned, Lee apologized for using a Control Yuan vehicle to transport his dog to a pet grooming salon on May 20. The issue first came to light late last month, when TVBS News reported that Lee had instructed his driver to take the dog to the salon. The news channel broadcast photos that it said were taken by an unnamed whistle-blower, which purportedly showed the
A former officer in China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) who witnessed the aftermath of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre has warned that Taiwan could face a similar fate if China attempts to unify the country by force. Li Xiaoming (李曉明), who was deployed to Beijing as a junior officer during the crackdown, said Taiwanese people should study the massacre carefully, because it offers a glimpse of what Beijing is willing to do to suppress dissent. “What happened in Tiananmen Square could happen in Taiwan too,” Li told CNA in a May 22 interview, ahead of the massacre’s 36th anniversary. “If Taiwanese students or
RSS