TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reported Friday (Dec. 8) the first case of mycoplasma pneumoniae infection detected in a child during airport screening.
The patient, a boy in his teens, developed a fever upon arriving from mainland China on Dec. 4 and tested positive for the pathogen the following day.
The detection has raised concerns amid an outbreak of respiratory illnesses in mainland China, which has caught the attention of health authorities and the public alike.
The CDC initiated targeted surveillance at the country's four major international airports starting Nov. 26, urging travelers to undergo voluntary testing.
According to the CDC, mycoplasma pneumoniae infections account for only 1.2 percent of the cases identified through airport screenings, indicating a downward trend overall.
The center added that the current respiratory diseases in mainland China are predominantly attributed to influenza viruses, with mycoplasma infections declining.
Health officials have reassured the public that airport testing protocols will continue and are expected to be maintained through the Lunar New Year period to ensure monitoring of incoming travelers and the containment of potential infectious diseases.
