Two Imported Chikungunya Cases, Taiwan
2008

Two Imported Chikungunya Cases in Taiwan

Sample size: 2 publication Evidence: low

Author Information

Author(s): Shu Pei-Yun, Yang Cheng-Fen, Su Chien-Ling, Chen Chung-Yu, Chang Shu-Fen, Tsai Kun-Hsien, Cheng Chia-Hsin, Huang Jyh-Hsiung

Primary Institution: Centers for Disease Control, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China

Conclusion

Two imported chikungunya cases were identified in Taiwan through airport fever screening, highlighting the risk of imported infections.

Supporting Evidence

  • Chikungunya is a reemerging infectious disease caused by a mosquito-borne virus.
  • Both case-patients had fever, fatigue, generalized arthralgia, and rash.
  • Real-time RT-PCR screening showed a high level of alphavirus viremia in both cases.

Takeaway

Two boys got sick with chikungunya after traveling to Singapore and Indonesia, and doctors found out by checking their temperatures at the airport.

Methodology

Fever screening at airports using infrared thermal scanners and real-time RT-PCR for diagnosis.

Limitations

The study is limited to only two cases and may not represent the broader situation of chikungunya in Taiwan.

Participant Demographics

Two boys, aged 5 and 13, from Taiwan.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.3201/eid1408.071304

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