In response to the increasing Zika outbreaks in Asia, the Nationwide Zika Diagnostic Laboratory Network is now in full operation, designating 9 diagnostic laboratories to the network to speed up testing time and ensure prompt implementation of relevant prevention and control measures by health units. 　

As Zika virus infection has been listed as a Category V Notifiable Infectious Disease, in the past, the laboratory testing of specimens from suspected Zika cases can only be performed by the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) laboratories according to the regulations.　In light of the recent increase in the number of Zika cases reported in Singapore and to improve Taiwan’s testing capacity for Zika virus, Taiwan CDC has designated the laboratories at 9 hospitals in the nation, including Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Tri-Service General Hospital, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, China Medical University Hospital, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, and Kaohsiung Medical University Chung-Ho Memorial Hospital, to establish the Nationwide Zika Diagnostic Laboratory Network.

Between January and August 2016, a total of 125 specimens were tested by Taiwan CDC laboratories. In the future, the 9 designated laboratories will divide the areas of responsibility according to their respective geographic location. Specimens from offshore islands and inbound travelers will be tested by Taiwan CDC laboratories in order to ensure the quality and timeliness of the diagnostic testing performed.

The Nationwide Zika Diagnostic Laboratory Network consisting of 11 laboratories (9 hospital laboratories and 2 Taiwan CDC laboratories) will stay in operation till the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) for Zika Virus is disbanded or after further assessment before the end of this year. As of now, no indigenous Zika cases have been occurred in Taiwan and all 6 confirmed Zika cases are imported cases, including 2 from Thailand, 1 from Indonesia, 2 from Latin America and 1 from the U.S.

As more Zika cases have been recently reported in Singapore, Taiwan CDC once again reminds pregnant women and women planning pregnancy to postpone all unnecessary travels to Zika-affected areas. In addition, travelers are advised to follow the “2226 Principle” after leaving Zika-affected areas to prevent Zika transmission, which specifies that female travelers are urged to postpone pregnancy 2 months after their return regardless whether they develop suspected Zika symptoms, and male travelers, if they do not develop suspected Zika symptoms, are urged to avoid sex or use condoms correctly for 2 months after their return from an affected-area, and if they develop suspected Zika symptoms, they are urged to avoid sex or use condoms correctly for 6 months after their return. Travelers visiting affected areas are urged to take precautions against mosquito bites such as wearing light-colored clothing, long sleeves and long pants, applying officially approved mosquito repellent to exposed parts of the body, staying at accommodations installed with window screens, screen doors or air conditioners. Taiwan CDC urges travelers returning from Zika-affected areas to proactively contact the quarantine officer at the fever screening station at the airport when suspected symptoms develop. If symptoms develop within two weeks of their return, please seek immediate medical attention and inform the physician of their travel history. 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).