On June 17, 2016, the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) announced a new Japanese encephalitis case in Tainan City, which is the city’s first case this year. The case is a 64-year-old male who works in agriculture. On June 9, he developed impaired consciousness and high fever. On June 12, he sought medical attention at a hospital and was hospitalized when he developed vomiting, mental confusion and restlessness. After the hospital reported him to the local health authority as a suspected Japanese encephalitis case, infection was confirmed in the case by the Taiwan CDC laboratory on June 17. As of now, the case is hospitalized for treatment.
According to the epidemiological investigation, the case had not recently traveled overseas, had not been vaccinated against Japanese encephalitis, and spent most of his time at home and work area. In addition, there are 2 pig farms and rice paddy fields near his work place. Hence, it is determined that the source of infection is somewhere around the case’s work area. Currently, none of the family members residing in the same household has experienced any symptoms. To prevent the further spread of the disease, the local health authorities has set up mosquito lamps around the residence of the confirmed case and the places he frequents as an attempt to capture vector mosquitoes and reinforced health education among residents who live near the confirmed case as well as urged routine vaccination of age-appropriate children.
According to Taiwan CDC’s surveillance data, transmission of Japanese encephalitis in Taiwan occurs annually between May and October and it usually peaks between June and July. Thus far this year, as of June 17, 3 Japanese encephalitis cases have been confirmed in Taiwan, including 2 in Kaohsiung City and 1 in Tainan City. During 2010 and 2015, the total numbers of confirmed Japanese encephalitis cases respectively are 33, 22, 32, 16, 18 and 30. People of all ages can become infected. People aged between 30 and 59 are at increased risk for infection.
As vaccination is the most effective way to prevent Japanese encephalitis, people who live near or work in close proximity to pig farms or rice paddy fields that increase their risk of Japanese encephalitis infection are recommended to visit one of the hospitals under the Ministry of Health and Welfare for self-paid vaccination. In addition, Taiwan CDC also urges parents and caretakers of age-appropriate children who have not received the vaccine to get vaccinated as soon as possible at their local health center or designated medical institution to prevent infection and severe complications.
To prevent infection, avoid visiting vector-breeding sites such as pigpens at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active. When needing to visit mosquito-prone places, people are advised to wear light-colored, long-sleeved shirts and long pants, and apply officially approved mosquito repellent to exposed body parts to prevent mosquito bites and lower the risk of contracting Japanese encephalitis. For any questions or further information, please visit the Taiwan CDC’s website at http://www.cdc.gov.tw or call the toll-free Communicable Disease Reporting and Care Hotline, 1922 (or 0800-001922).
DATA SOURCE: http://www.cdc.gov.tw/english/info.aspx?treeid=BC2D4E89B154059B&nowtreeid=EE0A2987CFBA3222&tid=68F80013BEC01B09
