Taipei - In a concerning health development, Taiwan has reported three new cases of measles, raising alarms about possible domestic transmission amid rising infection numbers.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) announced this news on Tuesday, detailing the origins of these cases, which include two imported from Vietnam and one domestic infection.

The Domestic Case

The domestic case is particularly noteworthy—a Taiwanese man in his 20s, residing in Taoyuan, initially thought he was suffering from a common cold after experiencing a fever and sore throat last Tuesday.

However, as his condition worsened and he developed a rash on his face two days later, he sought emergency medical attention, where he was ultimately diagnosed with measles on Monday.

CDC's Investigation

According to CDC physician Lin Yung-ching, while this Taoyuan man is not directly linked to any confirmed cases, there is a crucial connection involving his housemate.

This housemate had visited a medical facility where they were listed as a contact to an imported case—underscoring the complexities of tracking the infection's origin.

Interestingly, the Taoyuan man was present at the facility but didn’t enter it. As of now, his housemate remains asymptomatic and has not been diagnosed with measles.

"We are currently investigating the possible overlap in movements and interactions between the Taoyuan man and the imported cases to pinpoint the exact source of this infection," added CDC spokesman Lo Yi-chun.

Alarmingly, a total of three household contacts of the Taoyuan man are undergoing health monitoring until April 22, as well as 128 individuals linked to the two imported cases.

Imported Cases

The imported cases consist of a Taiwanese man in his 30s and a Vietnamese woman in her 20s who returned to Taiwan on March 24 and 25, respectively.

The woman displayed a rash the very next day while the man followed suit several days later, with both confirmed as measles cases last week.

Rising Case Numbers

With these new reports, the total number of confirmed measles cases in Taiwan has reached 22 since the beginning of 2025, comprising eight domestic and 14 imported instances—marking the highest surge in measles infections the region has experienced in the past six years, according to CDC data.

COVID-19 Vaccine Announcement

In a parallel development regarding public health, the CDC announced that a new vaccine targeting the JN.1 variant of COVID-19 is now available for high-risk groups, including seniors aged 65 and above, Indigenous individuals aged 55-64, and those with compromised immune systems.

“While the COVID-19 situation is relatively stable, we cannot dismiss the likelihood of another outbreak, especially with the ongoing mutations of the virus,” warned Lo.

The CDC is urging eligible individuals to receive their second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible, especially since there is a required gap of at least 180 days between the first and second doses of the JN.1 vaccine.

As Taiwan combats the resurgence of measles, it underscores the importance of vaccination and public health vigilance in safeguarding community health.