Health minister optimistic about curbing virus

Last Monday, the virus outbreak claimed a fifth victim, a 2-year-old boy in the central county of Taichung, who died of serious enterovirus infection, the Department of Health (DOH) reported.

Enteroviruses are the most common cause of aseptic meningitis and can cause serious complications especially in infants. The virus enters the body through the gastrointestinal tract.

The number of hospitalized cases in Taiwan has gradually increased since the end of March with a sharp increase of 40 cases last week. This year, a total of 176 cases have already been reported.

Based on his experience, Lin, medical doctor by training and the former superintendent of the National Taiwan Hospital, stressed that the number of cases would gradually decrease in the next two weeks.

But, given that 40 percent of the patients have been located in the south, experts noted that the peak of an enterovirus outbreak would rather be reached in the summer.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), non-polio enteroviruses are common and distributed worldwide during the summer.

Although mild infections often have no symptoms and go unnoticed, enteroviruses are also associated with occasional outbreaks in which a larger-than-usual number of patients develop clinical disease, sometimes with fatal consequences — especially for young children.

Experts pointed out that no specific anti-viral therapy is currently available and treatment mainly focuses on prevention of complications.

As there is no vaccine for these viruses, control measures during outbreaks are focused on classical hygiene measures including frequent hand-washing and disinfection of soiled clothing and surfaces.

In certain situations, health authorities advise to close child-care facilities and schools to reduce the intensity of transmission.

Currently many countries and regions in the Western Pacific area have implemented heightened surveillance for hand, foot and mouth disease and for severe complications in children, including China and Hong Kong.

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