讀後心得

The Centers for Disease Control reported this year's second case of severe complications leading to death from enterovirus. The patient was a newborn male infant under 1 month old, hospitalized due to respiratory difficulties, and later died from septic complications on March 17. He was confirmed to have been infected with Enterovirus type 11. There were no infections among family members or healthcare personnel who had contact with him, and the source of infection is still to be confirmed. The CDC urges expectant mothers and caregivers to strengthen hygiene practices and pay attention to the health of infants and young children. Additionally, the enterovirus outbreak is gradually increasing, with Enterovirus and Coxsackievirus B being the main threats. It is recommended that pregnant women and those with infants and young children avoid contact with infected individuals and pay attention to hygiene. Newborns showing symptoms such as lethargy should seek medical attention promptly to prevent worsening of their condition. Regarding influenza, the outbreak has subsided, and the use of publicly funded antiviral drugs will be adjusted starting in April, limited only to severe cases and high-risk patients.

The CDC announced this year's second death case related to severe complications from enterovirus infection, involving a newborn boy (premature) under one month old from the northern region. The baby was hospitalized in the pediatric intensive care unit in mid-February due to respiratory distress and showed symptoms of sepsis such as low blood oxygen, bradycardia, hepatitis, and low platelet count in mid-March, ultimately passing away on March 17. Tests confirmed that the severe condition was caused by infection with enterovirus "Echovirus 11". However, family contacts, healthcare workers, and other patients in the same ward showed no signs of infection, and the source of the infection is still under investigation. The CDC urges expectant mothers and caregivers to enhance personal hygiene, pay attention to the health of infants and young children, and medical institutions and postpartum care facilities to implement infection control measures.

Preventing neonatal enterovirus! The threats from Echovirus and Coxsackie B virus cannot be ignored. Monitoring data from the CDC shows that the recent enterovirus epidemic has fluctuated at a low point, but severe cases due to enterovirus infection are still being reported. In laboratory monitoring data from the past four weeks, the highest detection rate was of Coxsackie A16 enterovirus, followed by Coxsackie A6 and Echovirus 11, monitored alongside other enterovirus serotypes. According to data from previous years, enterovirus epidemics typically begin to rise in March and April, and the CDC will closely monitor changes in the epidemic. So far this year, there have been three confirmed cases of severe complications from enterovirus infection, two of which were newborns less than one month old.

The CDC emphasizes that Echovirus and Coxsackie B virus are the main types of enterovirus causing severe illness and death in newborns. To prevent neonatal enterovirus infection, pregnant women, newborns, young children, and their caregivers should avoid contact with sick individuals and pay special attention to personal hygiene and the health status of infants and young children. The CDC advises expectant mothers to maintain hand and respiratory hygiene during pregnancy and before and after childbirth, reduce visits to crowded or poorly ventilated places, and strengthen preventive measures; if experiencing symptoms such as fever, upper respiratory infections, or diarrhea within 14 days before delivery, they should proactively inform their doctors and implement appropriate isolation measures with their infants and young children.

If neonatal enterovirus infection is not addressed promptly, it may lead to severe complications; signs like drowsiness and convulsions require immediate medical attention. Because symptoms of enterovirus infection in adults are often not obvious, it can easily be inadvertently transmitted to infants and young children. Therefore, individuals with infants and young children at home should strengthen personal hygiene, change clothes upon returning home, and wash their hands properly with soap before contacting young children; individuals with symptoms should avoid contact with infants and young children.

The CDC indicates that early signs of infection in newborns may include fever, lethargy, and decreased appetite. If not treated promptly, these could evolve into severe conditions such as myocarditis, hepatitis, encephalitis, and multiple organ failure. Thus, parents should pay particular attention to warning symptoms of severe enterovirus infection. If they notice abnormal conditions like drowsiness, confusion, or lethargy, they should immediately seek medical treatment to seize the opportunity for effective intervention.

Regarding the influenza epidemic situation, last week, about 111,100 visits to outpatient departments for influenza-like illnesses were recorded, similar to the previous week. Additionally, 24 new severe cases of influenza were reported, with 11 fatalities. New cases and deaths were primarily associated with infection by A-type H1N1. Experts point out that the predominant respiratory virus circulating in the community is influenza virus (A-type H1N1), although the proportion of influenza cases has decreased. After a comprehensive assessment of monitoring data, it seems that the influenza epidemic may have moved out of the epidemic phase.

As the influenza-like epidemic eases, the conditions for using publicly funded antiviral medications for influenza will be adjusted, ending on March 31, and starting in April, they will only be applicable to severe cases of influenza and chronic disease patients at high risk for influenza.