Outbreak News Today
Date: June 26, 2015
By: Robert Herriman
The Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has reported an additional two cases
Japanese encephalitis/CDC
of local transmission of the mosquito borne virus, Japanese encephalitis in the southern region of the island.
According to the epidemiological investigation, the cases, a 42-year-old and a 58-year-old male, had not recently traveled overseas, but there are pig farms, pigeon farms and rice paddy fields within 2 km of the cases’ residences. Hence, it is determined that the source of infection is somewhere around the case’s residence.
On June 4, the 42-year-old case sought medical attention after developing sore throat and mild cough. On the following day, his symptoms improved. However, on June 6, he developed lethargy. In the early morning of June 7, when he developed fever and unconsciousness, he was transferred to the intensive care unit.
On the other hand, the 58-year-old case developed runny nose on June 6. In the evening of the next day, he developed fever. In the afternoon and evening of June 8, he sought medical attention at a clinic and a hospital. On June 9, when his fever persisted and he developed unconsciousness, he was hospitalized in the intensive care unit. Both cases were reported to the health authority by their hospital as a suspected Japanese encephalitis case. Infection with Japanese encephalitis was later confirmed in both cases. As of now, both cases are still hospitalized. [FULL STORY]
