Taiwan has recorded its first fatal case of Coxsackie B5 enterovirus in 10 years after a one-year-old boy from southern Taiwan died from complications early last month, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday.
CDC spokesman Lo Yi-chun (羅一鈞) told a news conference that the child initially developed a fever and respiratory symptoms before experiencing seizures and loss of consciousness.
The boy was diagnosed with acute encephalitis and admitted to intensive care, but his condition deteriorated rapidly, and he passed away on the sixth day of illness, Lo said.
Photo: Lin Hui-chin, Taipei Times
This also marks Taiwan’s third enterovirus-related death this year and the first severe Coxsackie B5 infection, Lo said.
Coxsackie B5 is typically associated with mild symptoms such as fever, cough, mouth ulcers and blisters on the hands and feet, with severe complications being rare.
CDC data show that since 2014, Taiwan has recorded only eight severe cases of Coxsackie B5 infection, including two fatalities.
However, Lo said that in just the first three months of this year, Taiwan has already reported four severe enterovirus cases, including three deaths.
Although the overall outbreak remains at a low level, sporadic severe cases continue to emerge, underscoring the ongoing threat of the virus, he said.
With temperatures rising this month, enterovirus activity is expected to increase significantly, and this year’s outbreak could be more severe than in previous years, Lo said.
The CDC urged parents, especially those with children under two years old, to maintain strict hygiene practices and watch for early signs of severe infection, such as persistent vomiting, drowsiness, muscle twitching or difficulty breathing.
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