Taiwan reports first imported case of measles in child that traveled to China
The Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) is reporting the first imported measles cases of 2013 in a 8-month-old baby girl who resides in southern Taiwan, according to a recent Taiwan CDC press release.
According to officials, the child traveled to China with her mother to visit relatives last November. At the end of January, 2013, she began to develop suspected symptoms pertaining to measles, including fever and rashes. When she returned to Taiwan on February 2, 2013, she was detected with having a fever by the fever screening system at the airport. Immediately, she was reported to the health authority, rushed to a hospital, and isolated for treatment.
The measles was laboratory confirmed on Feb. 8.
Since the case was still infectious on her flight back to Taiwan, the health authority has compiled a list of contacts, including passengers on the same flight, hospital patients, and medical personnel at the hospital, to monitor their health and administer follow up activities such as post-exposure prophylaxis. As of now, none of the contacts has developed suspected symptoms.
The affected child is still recovering.
Measles is one of the most infectious of all communicable diseases, and is spread by coughing and sneezing.
Measles or rubeola, is an acute highly communicable viral disease that is characterized by Koplik spots in the cheek or tongue very early in the disease. A couple of days later a red blotchy rash appears first on the face, and then spreads, lasting 4-7 days. Other symptoms include fever, cough and red watery eyes. The patient may be contagious from four days prior to the rash appearance to four days after rash appearance.
The disease is more severe in infants and adults. Complications from measles which is reported in up to 20% of people infected include; seizures, pneumonia, deafness and encephalitis.
Prevention of measles is through vaccination.
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