TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's Centers for Disease Control (CDC) issued revised information on Tuesday (March 5) about the spread of the measles virus in the country.
CDC spokesman Philip Lo announced that the intact local measles cases have now been reassessed to include two cluster infections. It was previously thought there were four clustered cases and one of an undetermined origin.
Earlier on Tuesday, the CDC had reported two additional local cases, a woman in her twenties and a man in his forties. This brings 2024's total of domestic measles cases to five, four of which were previously understood to be part of the same cluster infection.
However, Lo said that the information revealed earlier in the day was based on the testimonies of people around the patients, which had suggested possible overlap with the original cluster.
He expressed reservations, however, observing that the 17-day incubation period from exposure to the onset of illness was nearly at its limit. Additionally, discrepancies in patient accounts have emerged. Accordingly, health officials will conduct further investigations to clarify the situation.
Forecasting a spike in measles cases in March and April, the CDC said that there are currently only 10,000 doses of the measles vaccine in stock nationally, which is limited considering the predicted peak.
The CDC further encouraged the public to get vaccinated based on their health status to prevent a shortage.