
Back in 1998, Taiwan experienced its first severe outbreak of enterovirus 71, which left 405 patients with severe symptoms and 78 children dead. Since then the virus has flared up every three to four years. But amid COVID precautions, Taiwan hasn’t seen an outbreak in 10 years. Dr. Hwang Kao-pin from the China Medical University Hospital warns that a comeback now could end up being very severe, as many people have not developed antibodies against the disease. Let’s hear more.
Hwang Kao-pin
China Medical University Hospital
So many years without enterovirus 71 infections means that nobody has antibodies against it any more. Our antibodies against enterovirus 71 are basically nonexistent. So, if the virus crops up, it will be a massive outbreak.
The doctor suggests that vulnerable groups such as children under 6 get vaccinated to be protected. Currently there are two types of enterovirus 71 vaccines on the market, made by Enimmune and Medigen. The CDC reminds the public that the vaccines do not offer any additional protection against coxsackievirus A16 or enterovirus D68.
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1998年的台灣,曾爆發首波腸病毒71型嚴重疫情,造成405例重症,78名孩童不幸往生,後來每隔約三、四年爆發一次,但在新冠疫情期間延後,已經10年沒流行,醫師提醒,現今小朋友多半沒抗體,一旦71型爆發,恐怕造成大流行。
[[中醫大附醫副院長 黃高彬]]
“經過幾年以後,大家都沒有感染腸病毒71型,也就是說大家都沒有腸病毒71型的抗體,這時候等於是我們所有對腸病毒抗體來講,都是空白的,所以只要腸病毒71型一進來,它就是爆發大流行。”
醫師表示,不到6歲的兒童是腸病毒的好發族群,建議接種疫苗。市面上有兩款腸病毒71型疫苗,包括安特羅和高端疫苗。不過疾管署提醒,腸病毒71型疫苗,對於預防克沙奇A16型、腸病毒D68型等,目前沒有證據顯示具有交叉保護效力。
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