The Centers for Disease Control (hereafter referred to as CDC) announced today (the 14th) the first confirmed case of imported Zika virus infection in the country this year (2026). The case is a domestic male in his 30s from the north; after returning from Thailand in mid‑June, he experienced fever, dizziness, and head pressure. In late June, a rash appeared and he sought medical care at a hospital. After reporting and testing, the infection was confirmed as Zika virus. Currently, contacts and co‑habitants are asymptomatic; health authorities have carried out environmental source removal at the case’s activity sites and contact tracing, and have provided health education to the case and contacts.
CDC monitoring data show that, as of July 13 this year (2026), there has been one confirmed case in the country, imported from Thailand. Since 2016, Taiwan has confirmed 31 cases of Zika virus infection, all imported, with most infections occurring in Southeast Asian countries (81%): Thailand (8 cases), Vietnam (6 cases), the Philippines, Myanmar, and Malaysia (3 cases each), the Maldives (2 cases), Indonesia, Singapore, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Lucia, the United States (Miami, Florida), and Angola (1 case each).
Globally, the Zika virus epidemic from 2016 to 2026 has affected at least 97 countries. The current incidence is far lower than the peak period, and about 80% of infections are asymptomatic, with most cases concentrated in the Americas. In the Americas, by late June this year, more than 11,000 cases have been reported, with Brazil, Argentina, and Bolivia experiencing the highest numbers; Southeast Asia has seen low‑level endemic transmission and sporadic cases, with Thailand reporting a cumulative 76 cases by week 28 this year, a decline from 700 cases in 2023‑2025 to 236 cases, showing a yearly decreasing trend, and Singapore reporting 7 cases so far this year; the Western Pacific and Europe have mostly occasional or travel‑related cases; Africa has been affected in 18 countries including Kenya.
The CDC notes that Zika virus can be transmitted through bites of vector mosquitoes or through sexual contact, and may also be transmitted vertically from mother to child. In most adults, infection causes mild symptoms, typically fever, rash, arthritis, and joint pain; symptoms are similar to but milder than dengue fever. Pregnant women infected with Zika virus may experience fetal microcephaly or death, so pregnant women and those planning pregnancy are advised to postpone travel to Zika‑affected areas. If travel is necessary, people should take mosquito‑preventive measures, such as wearing light‑colored long‑sleeved clothing, applying government‑approved insect repellent to exposed skin, and staying in houses with screens, netted doors, or air conditioning. After returning from endemic areas, regardless of symptoms, men should use condoms for three months and women for two months, practice safe sex or abstain; if a male’s sexual partner is pregnant, condoms should be used or intercourse avoided until delivery. Additionally, implement personal mosquito‑preventive measures for at least three weeks and defer blood donation for at least one month.
The CDC urges that travelers returning from Zika‑affected areas who suspect possible infection should proactively contact airport quarantine personnel; if any discomfort occurs within two weeks after returning, they should seek medical care promptly and inform the provider of their travel history. Healthcare facilities encountering suspected cases should inquire about travel history and report according to law to reduce epidemic risk. For more information, visit the CDC’s global website (https://www.cdc.gov.tw) or call the toll‑free epidemic prevention line 1922 (or 0800-001922) for inquiries.
Source: Centers for Disease Control
Data compiled: Infection Control Office
