Taiwan’s first domestic measles case of the year has been confirmed and more than 500 contacts are being monitored until March 17, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said today.
The index case was an eight-month-old infant who got sick after returning from Vietnam at the end of last month and was later diagnosed with measles, as announced on Feb. 12, the CDC said.
A man in his 40s from northern Taiwan developed symptoms 13 days after contact with the infant and was confirmed to have measles after seeking medical care, it said.
Photo: Taipei Times file photo
Local health authorities traced 526 contacts during the man’s contagious period, including five family members who live with him, it said.
As measles is highly contagious, anyone who has had contact with a confirmed case should monitor their health and take protective measures, CDC Deputy Director-General Lin Min-cheng (林明誠) said.
If they develop any symptoms, they should wear a mask and contact local medical authorities to arrange care, rather than ignoring the situation or seeking medical care independently, Lin said.
If contacts do not follow proper self-monitoring regulations, they could face a fine of NT$60,000 to NT$300,000 under to the Communicable Disease Control Act (傳染病防治法), he said.
Doctors should remain vigilant and ask patients about their travel, work and contact history to accurately diagnose cases and trace contacts, he added.
As of yesterday, there have been three cases of measles in Taiwan so far this year, including the infant and the man in his 40s, the CDC said, adding that the third person was infected in Malaysia.
Measles outbreaks continue globally, with India, Indonesia, Singapore and Vietnam reporting cases since last year, the CDC said.
Japan has reported 43 measles cases so far this year, the highest figure over the period in nearly seven years, with the most cases reported in Tokyo and Osaka, it said.
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