Miaoli Reports One Imported Measles Case; Patient Traveled to Nantou, 112 Contacts Quarantined

(Central News Agency, Guan Rui-ping, Miaoli County, 22nd) Miaoli County has added one confirmed imported case of measles. The patient is a foreign woman in her 30s visiting Taiwan. She dined at San Shang Qiao Fu in Toufen on the evening of the 13th. The Health Bureau has identified 112 contacts for ongoing health monitoring. The Miaoli County Health Bureau stated today that the confirmed case entered Taiwan from Thailand on May 12, began experiencing fever symptoms on the 15th, and developed a rash on her face and body on the 17th. After seeking medical attention and being tested, the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (CDC) confirmed the case on the 21st. The Health Bureau stated that the patient had a history of visiting public places during the infectious period, including dining at San Shang Qiao Fu in Toufen from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM on the 13th, and traveling to Nantou County for three days from the 14th to the 16th. The relevant venues and supermarkets have been disinfected, and 112 contacts have been identified, including cohabitants, B&B and restaurant operators, and medical contacts. They will continue health monitoring until June 8. The public is reminded that those whose paths overlapped with the patient should conduct self-health monitoring until June 3. Chen Shu-zhu, head of the Disease Control Division of the Health Bureau, told the Central News Agency that this is the first confirmed measles case in Miaoli County in 17 years and is an imported case. Measles is highly contagious and spreads through air, droplets, and contact with the patient's secretions. Patients are infectious from 4 days before to 4 days after the rash appears. Symptoms include fever, cough, rhinitis, conjunctivitis, and rash. The Health Bureau reminds the public that contacts can live normally if they have no symptoms during the monitoring period, but are advised to wear masks, avoid crowded public places, and avoid contact with infants under 1 year old, children who have not completed the MMR vaccine, pregnant women, or immunocompromised patients. If suspicious symptoms such as rash, fever, cough, runny nose, photophobia, tearing, or red eyes occur, please call the Miaoli epidemic prevention hotline (037) 722620 or 1922 immediately to contact the health unit to arrange medical treatment and proactively inform them of contact history to reduce the risk of virus transmission. The Health Bureau emphasized that vaccination is the most effective way to prevent measles. Currently, the country provides two doses of public-funded MMR vaccine for children under 6 years old. If there are children in the family who are 12 months old or between 5 years old and elementary school entry age who have not completed the MMR vaccine, please take them to a contracted medical institution in the county to complete the vaccination as soon as possible.