Infant in Northern Taiwan Diagnosed with Whooping Cough; Contacts Monitored Until June 2

(CNA, Taipei, May 19, by reporter Shen Pei-yao) The Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (CDC) announced today that an infant girl under one year old in northern Taiwan, diagnosed with pertussis (whooping cough), has been discharged from the hospital. Her family contacts will be under health monitoring until June 2. As newborns cannot be vaccinated within the first two months, the CDC recommends pregnant women get a self-paid vaccination between the 27th and 36th week of pregnancy to provide maximum protection for their babies. Kuo Hung-wei, director of the CDC's Epidemic Intelligence Center, announced in a routine press briefing today that a new confirmed case of pertussis was reported. The patient is an infant girl from northern Taiwan who had not yet received any pertussis-related vaccines. Kuo stated that the patient began experiencing persistent coughing accompanied by vomiting on April 21. She was initially taken to a clinic, but her symptoms did not improve, leading to an emergency room visit where she was admitted to an isolation ward for treatment. She was diagnosed with pertussis after testing. The two family contacts have no suspected symptoms and will continue to be monitored until June 2. CDC Epidemic Intelligence Officer Lin Yung-ching told the media after the briefing that the epidemiological investigation found the infant's mother had not received a pertussis-related vaccine during her pregnancy. Although the cohabiting contacts currently show no symptoms, considering the primary exposure period was at home, it is presumed that the source of infection was a close contact. Lin emphasized that the initial symptoms of pertussis are very similar to a common cold, often leading people to delay medical treatment, which can then spread the infection to unvaccinated infants and young children at home, causing family clusters. He urged prompt medical attention for suspected symptoms such as severe coughing fits, coughing until red or purple in the face, or vomiting after coughing. Regarding preventive measures, Lin stated that the government currently provides infants with one dose of the relevant vaccine at 2, 4, 6, and 18 months of age, and again between age 5 and entry into elementary school. Since newborns cannot be vaccinated before two months of age, it is recommended that women receive one self-paid dose of the Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria, and acellular Pertussis) vaccine between the 27th and 36th week of pregnancy to maximize the benefit of transferring maternal antibodies to the infant. According to CDC surveillance data, there have been a total of 4 domestic pertussis cases in Taiwan this year, lower than the same period last year (18 cases). Statistics from 2022 to this year show that cases are concentrated among adolescents aged 11-18 (about 34%) and infants under 6 months (about 26%). The CDC urges parents and older children in the household to practice cough etiquette and respiratory hygiene. Before coming into contact with infants after returning home, they should change their clothes and wash their hands, and avoid taking infants to hospitals, crowded places, or poorly ventilated public areas to reduce the risk of infection. If you or a family member develop