The Centers for Disease Control (hereafter referred to as CDC) announced today (1) a new domestic case of severe complications from an enterovirus infection, involving a boy under 5 years old in the north. Starting in early August, he gradually developed fever, cough, and runny nose. He sought medical care at a hospital, was diagnosed with pneumonia and was hospitalized. After being discharged on August 9, he subsequently experienced generalized weakness, reduced appetite and activity, and was readmitted for treatment. Laboratory reporting confirmed enterovirus D68 with severe complications, and he has now been discharged to recover at home.
According to CDC monitoring data, the recent epidemic shows a gradual upward trend. In the 34th week (August 23 to August 29), there were 7,058 emergency and outpatient visits for enterovirus infections, a 5.5% increase from the previous week (6,690 visits), indicating continued community transmission risk; laboratory monitoring over the past four weeks shows that the predominant community enterovirus is Coxsackie A6, followed by enterovirus D68 and Coxsackie A16. So far this year (2026), there have been seven confirmed cases of severe complications from enterovirus infection (including one death): five cases of enterovirus D68, and one case each of Coxsackie A4 and Coxsackie A16. After schools reopened this week, increased interaction among students will raise transmission risk, and the public is urged to monitor infants' and young children's health and watch for early signs of severe enterovirus infection.
The CDC reminds that the symptoms of enterovirus D68 are mainly fever, runny nose, and cough, which differ from the typical enterovirus manifestations such as herpangina or hand‑foot‑mouth disease. A small number of patients may develop complications such as pneumonia, encephalitis, or limb paralysis. Currently, there is no vaccine or medication available for prevention or treatment. Enteroviruses are highly contagious; this week coincides with the start of school sessions at all levels, and the virus can spread easily through frequent interactions among children, be carried home by them, and transmitted via hands and feet to infants. Parents and childcare providers are urged to reinforce proper hand‑washing practices—wet, scrub, rinse, dry, wipe—and appropriate timing, as well as to regularly clean the environment. Because alcohol has limited virucidal effect on enteroviruses, it is recommended to use chlorine bleach solution at a concentration of 500 ppm (10 L of clean water + 100 mL of household bleach) to clean and disinfect items and toys frequently touched by children; additionally, if a child at home is diagnosed with an enterovirus infection by a physician, they should stay at home, avoid attending school or public places, and avoid contact with other infants to reduce transmission risk.
The CDC urges that children under five are a high‑risk group for severe enterovirus infection, and the disease can progress rapidly. When a child is diagnosed with an enterovirus infection by a physician, caregivers should closely monitor for warning signs of severe disease, such as drowsiness, confusion, poor vitality, weakness of the limbs, muscle jerks (unexplained startle or sudden whole‑body muscle contraction), persistent vomiting, rapid breathing, or accelerated heart rate, and promptly seek treatment at a major hospital. For more information, please visit the CDC’s global website (https://www.cdc.gov.tw), or call the toll‑free epidemic prevention hotline 1922 for inquiries.
Data source: Taiwan Centers for Disease Control
Data compiled: Infection Control Office
