In the morning of February 5, 2016, the TaiwanCenters for Disease Control’s(Taiwan CDC’s) command center convened the Expert Consultation Meeting on Zika Virus Infection. Besides briefings on current local and international outbreaks, diagnosis and treatment of microcephaly cases in Taiwan, and birth statistics made by Taiwan CDC, the National Health Insurance Administration (NHIA) and the Health Promotion Administration (HPA), local obstetricians/gynecologists, infectious disease specialists and neurologists also participated in the meeting and offered recommendations on maternal and neonantal health examinations, laboratory testing and prevention measures.

Participating experts all agreed that there has been no significant increase in the number of microcephaly cases in Taiwan.On the other hand, concerning Zika transmission through sexual contacts and blood transfusion, the experts recommended men returning from Zika-affected countries to use condoms when having sex and people returningfrom the area to postpone giving blood for at least 28 days to prevent Zika transmission. Patients withconfirmed Zika virus infection are not allowed to donate blood for 28 days after full recovery from the active stage of Zika infection. Further, apart from commending the current efforts implemented by the command center, the experts recommended related training for health care workers to raise Zikavirus awareness. 

Since the second half of 2015,Zika virus has spread rapidly in Latin America and the virus continues tospread. Thus far, about 30 countries, areas and/or territories worldwide,primarily in Latin America and the Caribbean region, have reported localout breaks of Zika virus infection.  As of now, besides one imported case of Zika virus infection, no other cases of Zika virus infection have been identified in Taiwan. In preparedness and response tothe potential threats of the ongoing Zika transmission posed to Taiwan, TaiwanCDC has issued a travel notice of Level 2: Alert for Zika virus for Latin America and the Caribbean region, and a travel notice of Level 1: Watch forZika virus for four countries in Asia, activated the agency-level command center, listed Zika virus infection as a Category V Notifiable Infectious Disease, published relevant guidelines and prevention measures, and implemented 4 major strategies, including healthcare system preparedness planning, prevention of Zika virus importation,border quarantine and vector control, in order to prevent the occurrence of local outbreaks.