Taiwan records year’s first case of perinatal enteroviral infection

The case involves a baby boy born on Feb. 25 by caesarean section in the central city of Taichung, said CDC Deputy Director-General Lin Ting.

Displaying symptoms such as panting and increased oral and nasal secretions soon after birth, the boy further developed symptoms of cyanosis, apnea and rapid heart beat on Feb. 29 and was later that day suspected to have contracted sepsis and meningitis, Lin said.

The boy had been in intensive care since then and was only transferred to a newborn observation room March 8 after he could breath on his own without the help of any breathing apparatus, Lin said, adding that tests confirmed that he was infected with echovirus type 6, a member of the enterovirus family.

Lin said the baby is believed to have been infected while in the uterus by his mother, who had flu-like symptoms a few days before the delivery.

Lin noted that clinically, echovirus type 6 and coxsackie virus type A and type B3 are easily transmissible from an expectant mother to her baby through the placenta.

If the infection occurs in the early period of pregnancy, it can cause deformities, delayed development or even the death of the fetus, Lin said.

If infected near birth,the baby can develop serious complications soon after birth, he said.

Although only sporadic occurrences of such cases have been reported every year, Taiwan saw a total of 28 newborns suffer severe enteroviral infection via perinatal transmission in 2005, according to Lin.

To prevent perinatal transmission of the enterovirus virus, expectant mothers are advised to keep good hygiene and avoid contact with sick children, he said.

CDC tallies show that 19 severe enteroviral infections have been reported so far this year, one of which has resulted in death.

Of the 19 cases, 18 were caused by enterovirus type 71 (E71) and one by echovirus type 6, according to the CDC.

Enteroviruses are the most common cause of aseptic meningitis and can be serious, especially in infants.

In 1988, Taiwan experienced a severe outbreak of E71 — the deadliest type of enterovirus, with 405 children infected, 78 of whom died.

Another E71 outbreak in 2005 saw 145 children infected, 15 of whom died.