According to surveillance information of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there has been continuous infection of mild symptoms of enterovirus infection in communities. Enterovirus 71 has been active and its peak season is between May and June each year. It is important to clean up environment and wash hands properly. Health Bureau of Taichung City Government calls for the alert of families with children under five years old as well as care and educational institutes such as elementary schools, kindergartens, day care centers, cram schools, and after-school classes. If children are detected with pre-symptoms of enterovirus infection including sleepiness, depressed consciousness, and poor activity, please go to big hospitals in time for proper treatment and best result.

Health Bureau said there have been no reports of serious case of enterovirus infection, but families, schools, and crowded public places are sites where enterovirus can be easily spread. The public is called for paying attention to the prevention. Both adults and children shall take care of their own hygiene.

Additionally, some infected people have no symptoms or those like flu and they are more likely to become potential infection source. Bureau of Health would like to remind parents and educational and care institutes, use 500ppm diluted bleach water to clean the environment, wash hands properly, and let sick children to stay home for better rest. Pre-school babies and children are the highest-risk group for serious enterovirus infection and complications, when they are detected with pre-symptoms of serious enterovirus infection such as sleepiness, depressed consciousness, short breaths, racing heartbeat, muscle twitching, (unknown reasons of frightening or sudden muscle contraction), and continuous vomiting, please go to big hospitals for treatment. They shall avoid contacting with other young children to avoid cross-infection.

Director-general Liu Tsung-hsueh reminds the public that enterovirus infection can be spread through fecal-oral, droplet, and contact transmission. Families and young children shall follow five steps, “to wet, scrub, rinse, rub, and dry,” to wash hands and each time, it shall last for at least 20 seconds. Wash your hands before and after meals, games, going to toilet, wiping your nose, and visit to the doctor to avoid enterovirus infection.

For relevant information to control and prevent enterovirus infection, please visit the “Enterovirus Area” of official website of Bureau of Health( http://bit.ly/1N7V3kg ) or that of Centers for Disease Control( http://www.cdc.gov.tw ). You can also visit a health station in each district for free flyer of health education or call to the free disease control and prevention hotline at 1922 or 0800-001922 for more information.

Contact person: Section Chief Lin of Health Bureau, Taichung City Government

Contact telephone number: 04-25265394 extn.3500