By Lee I-chia / Staff reporterThe number of reported enterovirus infections last week reached a record high of 15,290 cases, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday, adding that outbreaks are expected to peak next month or in November. The weekly number of reported enterovirus cases has been increasing over the past five weeks, the agency said, adding that last week’s total of 15,290 cases is about 3.2 times the number reported in the same period last year, as well as the highest weekly sum this year. Coxsackievirus group A infections are the most common now, the peak enterovirus infection period, but 37 mild enterovirus 71 infections have also been reported this year, it added. “Four cases of enterovirus 71 infections were reported last week, all in northern Taiwan, which is a warning sign,” CDC Deputy Director-General Philip Lo (羅一鈞) said. As the peak period is delayed and school has started, the risk of enterovirus transmission in schools might increase, he added.

Source: Taipei Times September 13, 2017 16:02 UTC