As Zika virus continues to spread in Latin America and the Caribbean region, the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) has obtained information on the 4 travel agencies organizing the 13 tour groups consisting of 254 travelers who are visiting Latin America from Taiwan during the Chinese Lunar New Year holiday. In addition, Taiwan CDC has provided pre-travel health education materials to the 4 travel agencies and the information is also made available at the four major airports in Taiwan, including Taipei Airport, Taoyuan Airport, Taichung Airport, and Kaohsiung Airport, to remind Taiwanese people to take measures against mosquito bites while visiting areas affected by Zika virus.

For the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year holiday, many people have arranged trips and travels to visit their relatives in Taiwan and overseas. Currently, it is the influenza and viral gastroenteritis seasons in Taiwan. Moreover, international outbreaks are also ongoing. At the moment, 26 countries, areas and/or territories in Latin America and the Caribbean region have reported local outbreaks of Zika virus infection. Although the disease is usually mild and the World Health Organization (WHO) has not recommended any restrictions on travel or trade with countries, areas and/or territories with Zika virus transmission,there have been reports of congenital microcephaly and even deaths in babies of mothers who were infected with Zika virus while pregnant. Hence, Taiwan CDC advises pregnant women and women planning their pregnancy to postpone their trips to areas where Zika virus is active.

Spread of Zika virus through sexual contacts or blood transfusion have been reported. Nonetheless, further scientific evidence is needed to support the claims. As of now, no unified global recommendations concerning the aforementioned claims have been made. Taiwan CDC’s command center will continue to collect the latest measures and efforts against Zika virus implemented by other advanced countries and will convene the first expert meeting on Zika virus to discuss further measures on February 5, 2016. Furthermore, Taiwan CDC promulgated the guidelines for Zika virus infection control on February 3, 2016. The promulgated guidelines require patients with Zika virus to be isolated using mosquito nets, but the remains of such patients do not require cremation or deep burial.

On the other hand, China continues to report new H7N9 cases and influenza transmission is currently ongoing in the Northern Hemisphere. As a result, travelers planning to visit areas with ongoing influenza transmission are urged to pay attention to hand and respiratory hygiene and avoid contacts with poultry and birds in order to ward off infection. Additionally, travelers planning to visit areas affected by vector-borne diseases such as dengue fever, chikungunya and malaria in Southeast Asia are urged to take precautions against mosquito bites, including wearing light-colored clothing, long sleeves and long pants, applying officially approved mosquito repellent to exposed parts of the body.

Travelers planning overseas trips are advised to check the Taiwan CDC’s website (http://www.cdc.gov.tw) for the latest health issues related to specific destinations and visit one of the 26 outpatient travel clinic at contracted hospitals in the nation prior to their trip. Travelers planning to visit Africa and Latin American can inquire the physician about their need for yellow fever vaccination.

Taiwan CDC advises public to pay attention to personal hygiene and health and avoid visiting crowded places with poor air ventilation as they travel during the Chinese Lunar New Year holiday in order to effectively ward off infections and prevent transmission of various viruses. Travelers are urged to voluntarily report to the quarantine officer at airports and ports when symptoms such as fever of unknown origin, influenza-like illnesses, diarrhea, vomiting or other gastroenteritis symptoms develop. Further, after returning to Taiwan, please seek prompt medical attention when experiencing discomfort and voluntarily inform the physician of the relevant travel and exposure history to facilitate prompt diagnosis and treatment. For more information, please visit the Taiwan CDC website at http://www.cdc.gov.tw or call the toll-free Communicable Disease Reporting and Consultation Hotline, 1922 (or 0800-001922 or +886-800-001922 when overseas).