CHOLERA, DIARRHEA & DYSENTERY UPDATE (45): TAIWAN, INCREASE
A ProMED-mail post
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International Society for Infectious Diseases
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Date: Tue 3 Sep 2024
Source: Focus Taiwan [edited]
https://focustaiwan.tw/society/202409030018
The number of patients with diarrhea visiting emergency and outpatient
departments in Taiwan increased for 5 consecutive weeks as of 31 Aug
2024, while that of reported diarrhea clusters reached its highest for
the same period in 5 years, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said
Tuesday [3 Sep 2024].
A total of 129 536 individuals with diarrhea visited emergency and
outpatient departments from 25-31 Aug 2024, up 1.3% from the previous
week [week of 25 Aug 2024], Lee Chia-lin, deputy director of the CDC’s
Epidemic Intelligence Center, said at a news conference.
The number is higher than in the same period from 2019 to 2022 but
lower than that of last year [2023], and the overall trend has risen
over the past 5 weeks, according to Lee.
Lee pointed out that a total of 98 diarrhea clusters were reported in
the past 4 weeks, higher than the number reported during the same
period from 2019 to 2023 with most of the cases connected to
restaurants, catering and food services and hotels.
Of the 98 diarrhea clusters, 48 tested positive for pathogens, with
the most prevalent detected pathogen being norovirus (29 cases,
accounting for 60.4%), followed by Vibrio enteritidis (14 cases,
29.2%), Lee said.
CDC Deputy Director-General Lo Yi-chun said that in previous years,
diarrhea cases peaked around the Mid-Autumn Festival which falls on 17
Sep this year [2024]. It remains to be seen whether cases will fall
later this month [September 2024].
To prevent diarrhea, the CDC urged member of the public to wash their
hands with soap and water frequently and pay attention to dietary and
personal hygiene.