Enterovirus D68 Has 2 Severe Cases, Lo Yi-chun Reminds Public to Wash Hands for Prevention
Taiwan CDC Director-General Lo Yi-chun announced on World Hand Hygiene Day that there have been two severe cases of Enterovirus D68 this year, and as its last major outbreak was three years ago, the public should closely monitor epidemic changes. He urged everyone to practice frequent handwashing for prevention.
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- 📰 Published: May 5, 2026 at 13:47
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Central News Agency (CNA)
(CNA reporters Tseng I-ning and Chen Chieh-ling, Taipei, 5th) Lo Yi-chun, Director-General of the Ministry of Health and Welfare's Centers for Disease Control (CDC), stated on World Hand Hygiene Day today that there have been two severe cases of Enterovirus D68 this year, and since the last major outbreak of D68 was three years ago, the public must closely monitor changes in the epidemic. He urged diligent handwashing for prevention.
National Taiwan University Hospital (NTUH) held a hand hygiene promotion event this morning, aligning with the World Health Organization's (WHO) annual theme "Action saves lives." Through innovative promotions and hospital-wide participation mechanisms, it aims to strengthen awareness among medical personnel and the public regarding the importance of hand hygiene, implement infection prevention, and safeguard patient safety.
Lo Yi-chun, who attended the event, stated that handwashing can prevent many diseases, and that April to June each year is the peak season for enteroviruses. This year, particular attention must be paid to the possible prevalence of D68, which differs from past outbreaks and for which no current vaccine exists.
He said that D68 symptoms are different from typical enteroviruses, resembling a common cold more closely, and rarely presenting with hand-foot-and-mouth disease. However, in severe cases, it can invade the central nervous system, affecting both adults and children. This year's two severe cases involve a boy under 5 years old with lower limb weakness and spinal inflammation, and a 30-year-old male with encephalitis.
Lo Yi-chun stated that prevention requires thorough handwashing, especially for children after returning home and before eating, and for adults after visiting hospitals and returning home.
Interactive challenge stations were designed at the event, emphasizing the importance of "gloves cannot replace handwashing" to deepen correct infection prevention and control. NTUH Superintendent Yu Chung-jen attended the event and led a pledge, calling on all medical personnel to implement the "Five Moments for Hand Hygiene," internalizing the seemingly simple act of handwashing into an indispensable standard procedure for daily medical care.
The five moments include: before touching a patient, before performing a clean/aseptic procedure, after body fluid exposure risk, after touching a patient, and after touching patient surroundings.
In addition, Cathay General Hospital also reminded the public today to pay attention to hand hygiene. Chen Li-chun, Deputy Director of the Department of Internal Medicine, said that through antibiotic stewardship and hand hygiene education, regular audits improve compliance and accuracy. Currently, the proportion of antibiotic-resistant bacteria at Cathay General Hospital is lower than the national average for medical centers.
CDC reminds the public to implement correct handwashing steps – 'Inside, Outside, Clasp, Bow, Thumb, Wrist, Finish' – before eating, before touching children, after using the toilet, after blowing one's nose, and before and after medical visits. This strengthens hand hygiene, maintains healthy living habits, and curbs pathogen transmission. (Editor: Li Ming-tsung) 1150505
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(CNA reporters Tseng I-ning and Chen Chieh-ling, Taipei, 5th) Lo Yi-chun, Director-General of the Ministry of Health and Welfare's Centers for Disease Control (CDC), stated on World Hand Hygiene Day today that there have been two severe cases of Enterovirus D68 this year, and since the last major outbreak of D68 was three years ago, the public must closely monitor changes in the epidemic. He urged diligent handwashing for prevention.
National Taiwan University Hospital (NTUH) held a hand hygiene promotion event this morning, aligning with the World Health Organization's (WHO) annual theme "Action saves lives." Through innovative promotions and hospital-wide participation mechanisms, it aims to strengthen awareness among medical personnel and the public regarding the importance of hand hygiene, implement infection prevention, and safeguard patient safety.
Lo Yi-chun, who attended the event, stated that handwashing can prevent many diseases, and that April to June each year is the peak season for enteroviruses. This year, particular attention must be paid to the possible prevalence of D68, which differs from past outbreaks and for which no current vaccine exists.
He said that D68 symptoms are different from typical enteroviruses, resembling a common cold more closely, and rarely presenting with hand-foot-and-mouth disease. However, in severe cases, it can invade the central nervous system, affecting both adults and children. This year's two severe cases involve a boy under 5 years old with lower limb weakness and spinal inflammation, and a 30-year-old male with encephalitis.
Lo Yi-chun stated that prevention requires thorough handwashing, especially for children after returning home and before eating, and for adults after visiting hospitals and returning home.
Interactive challenge stations were designed at the event, emphasizing the importance of "gloves cannot replace handwashing" to deepen correct infection prevention and control. NTUH Superintendent Yu Chung-jen attended the event and led a pledge, calling on all medical personnel to implement the "Five Moments for Hand Hygiene," internalizing the seemingly simple act of handwashing into an indispensable standard procedure for daily medical care.
The five moments include: before touching a patient, before performing a clean/aseptic procedure, after body fluid exposure risk, after touching a patient, and after touching patient surroundings.
In addition, Cathay General Hospital also reminded the public today to pay attention to hand hygiene. Chen Li-chun, Deputy Director of the Department of Internal Medicine, said that through antibiotic stewardship and hand hygiene education, regular audits improve compliance and accuracy. Currently, the proportion of antibiotic-resistant bacteria at Cathay General Hospital is lower than the national average for medical centers.
CDC reminds the public to implement correct handwashing steps – 'Inside, Outside, Clasp, Bow, Thumb, Wrist, Finish' – before eating, before touching children, after using the toilet, after blowing one's nose, and before and after medical visits. This strengthens hand hygiene, maintains healthy living habits, and curbs pathogen transmission. (Editor: Li Ming-tsung) 1150505
Choose to stand with facts. Every sponsorship is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the CNA 'First-hand News' APP to stay updated with the latest news.
The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and utilized without authorization.