This winter, an increased avian influenza activity and frequent occurrence of H5N2 and H5N8 infections in local poultry farms have been observed. Although no bird-to-human transmission of avian influenza has occurred thus far, the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) will continue to reinforce surveillance of poultry farms and closely monitor the health status of disease control personnel as precautions. In addition, as the number of H7N9 cases reported in Guangdong Province, Fujian Province and Jiangsu Province have increased, Taiwan CDC urges travelers visiting China to practice good personal hygiene such as washing hands frequently and putting on a mask when coughing and take preventive measures such as avoiding direct contact with poultry and birds or their droppings/dead bodies, and consuming only thoroughly cooked poultry and eggs in order to ensure their health and well-being.

In response to the ongoing avian influenza outbreak in poultry, Taiwan CDC has been closely monitoring the health status of polutry farm workers and disease control personnel according to the standard operation procedures outlined under the “Animal Influenza Preparedness and Response Guidance” in the “Handbook for the Control and Prevention of Novel Influenza A Virus Infections”. At the time of writing, 8 of the 271 people being monitored and followed up have developed influenza-like symptoms. Specimens have been collected from 4 of them and specimens are waiting to be collected from two other persons, while the remaining two persons are still being monitored for their health status. Influenza B virus has been detected in one of them. According to the data provided the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), since the highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N8) outbreak that occurred in Korea in Januar, 2014, a cumulative total of 64 outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza have consequently been confirmed in Japan, Russia, Germany, the Netherlands, the U.K., the U.S., and Italy. Korea has reported the most number of outbreaks (33). During 2014 and 2015, at least 29 outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N2) occurred Canada, the U.S., China and Taiwan.

Since October 1, 2014, a cumulative total of 38 H7N9 influenza infections have been confirmed in China, including 8 in Jiangsu Province, 8 in Guangdong Province, 7 in Zhejiang Province, 6 in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, 6 in Fujian Province, 1 in Beijing City, 1 in Shanghai City, and 1 imported case from Guangdong Province in Hong Kong. Taiwan CDC has issued a travel notice of Level 2: Alert for avian influenza to Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, Jinagsu Province, Zhejiang Province, Guangdong Province, Fujian Province and Shanghai City, and a travel notice of Level 1: Watch for avian influenza to the other provinces and cities in China, excluding Hong Kong and Macau. Since March 31, 2013, a cumulative total of 491 H7N9 influenza infections, including 182 deaths, announced by WHO on December 30, 2014 have been confirmed China (475), Hong Kong (11), Taiwan (4), and Malaysia (1).

Taiwan CDC reminds travelers visiting China to take preventive measures such as avoiding visiting live poultry market and live bird market, avoiding direct contact with poultry and birds or their droppings, consuming only thoroughly cooked poultry and eggs, and washing hands frequently to prevent infection. If fever or influenza-like symptoms develops after returning to Taiwan, please put on a mask and seek immediate medical attention. Moreover, please inform the physician of the contact and travel history to facilitate 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).