CDC urges 'self-health management' for those potentially exposed to measles

Taipei, March. 11 (CNA) Health authorities on Tuesday announced a new imported measles case in northern Taiwan, urging those who visited the same locations or used the same transport as the infected traveler in early March to follow "self-health management" measures.

Self-health management involves avoiding public places where possible and wearing a face mask when outside for 18 days from the potential exposure date to the highly infectious disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

A Japanese national in her 20s developed a fever on March 1 and flew to Taoyuan International Airport on March 2 from Kansai International Airport in Osaka on VietJet Air flight VZ567, CDC Deputy Director-General Tseng Shu-hui (曾淑慧) said at a regular news briefing.

Tseng said the traveler developed symptoms on March 3, and that when the CDC learned of the case on March 8, it contacted Japanese authorities to request her travel record.

Earlier Tuesday, the Taipei City government's Department of Health issued a press release stating that after landing around 2 p.m., the woman took the Airport MRT at 3 p.m., arrived at Taipei Main Station an hour later and checked into a nearby hotel.

She then took the MRT from Taipei Main Station to Jiantan Station at 6 p.m. to visit Shilin Night Market before taking the MRT again to Zhongshan Station at 8 p.m., the health department said.

The next day, she took a bus at 3:10 p.m. from Taipei Main Station to Jiufen in New Taipei -- likely Taiwan Tourist Shuttle Route 965 -- and returned by bus to Taipei Main Station at around 7:30 p.m.

The health department said she went to Ningxia Night Market, where she had dinner at "Ban Ban Hotpot" around 8 p.m.

On March 4, she took the Airport MRT from Taipei Main Station at noon to Taoyuan International Airport terminal one and flew to Osaka on AirAsia flight D7378, the department said.

According to the World Health Organization, measles has an incubation period of seven to 18 days. It can spread easily when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes, leading to severe illness and even death.

The CDC advised that individuals undergoing self-health management who experience symptoms such as fever, rhinitis, conjunctivitis, cough, or a rash should contact local health authorities.