Taipei: A woman in her 60s from central Taiwan has succumbed to epidemic meningitis just one day after the onset of symptoms, marking the first fatal case of this disease in the country this year, as reported by the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (CDC) on Tuesday. The woman, who had a medical history of hypertension and had not traveled overseas recently, began experiencing fever, nausea, diarrhea, dizziness, chills, and general weakness on May 7. She was admitted to a hospital the following day, where her condition deteriorated rapidly, leading to cyanosis and respiratory failure, and she passed away later that day.
According to Focus Taiwan, CDC epidemiologist Lin Yung-ching revealed that the woman was infected with meningococcal bacteria type B (serogroup B). This type of bacteria affects the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord, causing meningitis. Lin also pointed out that the disease is primarily transmitted through close contact with bacteria present in the throat and nose or via respiratory droplets.
Despite serogroup B not being as easily transmissible as influenza, it has the potential to cause rapid deterioration in patients, leading to death within hours. Lin emphasized the importance of seeking immediate hospital care for high-risk individuals who show symptoms resembling the flu, especially those with underlying health conditions or weakened immune systems.
The CDC took precautionary measures by monitoring about 20 people who had close contact with the woman at her home and in the hospital until May 18, given the disease's incubation period of two to 10 days. As of Tuesday, no suspected cases have been identified, according to the CDC.