TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Local and imported measles cases in Taiwan have hit a six-year high, with all four clusters tied to Vietnam.
Lee Chia-lin (李佳琳), deputy director of the CDC Epidemic Intelligence Center, said two new confirmed cases were reported last week, one imported and one domestic, marking the fourth cluster this year, per CNA. In total, 28 measles cases have been confirmed in Taiwan this year, including 11 domestic and 17 imported, all record highs for the same period over the past six years.
CDC Spokesperson Lo Yi-chun (羅一鈞) said that all 17 imported cases originated from Vietnam, and all four domestic clusters were also associated with imported cases from that country. Lo said it is believed that during the COVID-19 pandemic, disruptions in routine childhood immunization schedules led to decreased vaccination coverage
Lo said that measles vaccine coverage in some areas of Vietnam reportedly dropped as low as 70%. While the outbreak there has shown signs of easing due to increased vaccination efforts, Lo said imported cases are expected to continue into the first half of the year.
On the global front, Lee said the measles outbreak remains severe. According to Lee, Vietnam reported over 4,100 new cases and two deaths between April 12 and 17.
As of mid-April, the country had accumulated 76,000 cases, said Lee. While the spread is slowing, severe cases among adults are rising, and fatalities have been reported.
In India, Indonesia, and Pakistan, 3,600 to 20,000 cases have been reported since the end of last year, said Lee. The outbreak in North America is also serious, with the US reporting 800 cases across 25 states as of April 17.
Lo advised travelers to Vietnam to maintain good personal hygiene, including frequent handwashing, avoiding touching the mouth and nose, and wearing masks in crowded areas. Lo said travelers returning from Vietnam should watch for symptoms such as fever, rhinitis, conjunctivitis, cough, and rash within three weeks and inform their doctor of their travel history.
He emphasized that children should complete their full schedule of publicly-funded vaccinations, as unvaccinated infants under one year old who contract measles without proper treatment face a mortality rate of up to 2%.
Regarding the domestic risk of a measles outbreak, Lo said there is cause for concern but no need for panic. Lo said Taiwan’s measles vaccination rate for young children exceeds 98%, providing sufficient herd immunity.
However, due to limited availability of privately purchased vaccines, Lo said priority should still be given to high-risk groups such as healthcare workers and airline crew members. Lo said the public is not currently advised to get self-paid vaccinations before traveling to Vietnam, to avoid diverting doses from those at higher risk.
Lo added that over 30,000 additional doses are expected to enter the commercial vaccine market in early May. Once the supply stabilizes, Lo said vaccination guidelines may be revised accordingly.
