2022年彰化縣日本腦炎疫情調查報告

Investigation of Japanese Encephalitis Cases in Changhua County, 2022

2022年7月彰化縣有2位民眾確診日本腦炎，分別居住花壇鄉及彰化市。調查發現，病例居住地相距約1公里，有時間及地緣相關性。確診病例住家範圍內有三處高風險場域，二處豬舍及一處鴿舍，但經活動史調查及上述地點透過捕蚊進行蚊種監測及鑑定，並無檢出帶有日本腦炎病毒病媒蚊，無法釐清確診病例的感染來源，無法確認有群聚情形，研判為散發病例。2名個案從發病到通報分別為10天及17天。雖然在COVID-19疫情期間，民眾就醫行為的改變，可能為法定傳染病延遲通報的原因，仍建議在日本腦炎的防治作為上，除了發布新聞稿之外，也可以透過舉辦教育訓練並搭配登革熱醫療院所訪視時提醒，或者透過醫事團體轉知會員，以提高一線醫療人員對於疾病的警覺性。

In July 2022, two cases of Japanese encephalitis were confirmed in Changhua County. The cases lived in Huatan Township and Changhua City, approximately 1 kilometer apart. Initial investigations revealed temporal and geographical correlations between the two cases. Further investigations identified high-risk sites near the residences of confirmed cases, including two pig farms and one pigeon loft. However, the infection sources could not be identified because onsite mosquito collection did not yield mosquitos carrying the Japanese encephalitis virus. As a result, we concluded that the cases were sporadic. The times from onset of symptoms to notification for the two cases were 10 days and 17 days, respectively. Although the delayed diagnosis and notification to the public health department may partly be due to changes in people’s behavior toward seeking medical care during the COVID-19 pandemic, we still recommend that, to increase awareness of Japanese encephalitis, public health authorities issue press releases, organize continuing medical education, and remind medical institutions of Japanese encephalitis when conducting institutional dengue fever assessments. Furthermore, medical associations could also inform their members about the disease.