On May 27, 2016, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) for Zika Virus announced two suspected Zika cases in a couple who recently returned to Taiwan after a trip to Fiji and the Solomon Islands. The two suspected cases reside in Kaohsiung City. Their initial testing results are negative. A further test will be conducted on June 4 to confirm the diagnosis. Currently, none of the contacts and the family members residing in the same household has developed any symptoms. In addition, the local health authority has implemented a number of vector control measures and urged the suspected cases and their family members to take precautions to prevent mosquito breeding and mosquito bites.

The couple visited Fiji and the Solomon Islands during April 23 and May 15 and re-entered Taiwan through Kaohsiung International Airport on May 16. The wife and husband respectively developed symptoms, including fever, muscle ache and rash, on May 20 and 25. The hospital proactively reported the two cases as suspected Zika cases on May 26. The initial testing results are negative. A further test will be conducted around June 4 for confirmation.  

CECC for Zika Virus pointed out that a travel notice of Level 2: Alert for Zika virus has been issued for both Fiji and the Solomon Islands, indicating the risk of Zika virus transmission persists in both countries. Hence, travelers planning to visit these countries are urged to avoid mosquito bites, and pregnant women and women planning pregnancy are advised to postpone their trips to areas where Zika virus is active.

Thus far this year, over 2,000 samples have been collected by the Taiwan CDC laboratory for testing and only 2 imported cases of Zika virus infection from Thailand have been confirmed. Additionally, so far, at least 60 countries, areas and/or territories worldwide, primarily in Latin America and the Caribbean region, have reported local outbreaks of Zika virus infection. Taiwan CDC has issued a travel notice of Level 2: Alert for Zika virus for 54 countries and territories. Although sporadic cases have been reported in 6 countries, including Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Laos, Bangladesh, and Gabon in Africa, no direct evidence has shown local transmission has occurred in any of the 6 countries. Therefore, Taiwan CDC has issued a travel notice of Level 1: Watch for Zika virus for these 6 countries.

CECC for Zika Virus reminds travelers visiting affected areas 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. People returning from Zika-affected areas are advised to use condoms when having sex for at least 28 days to prevent Zika transmission. Further, Taiwan CDC urges travelers returning from 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). As warmer temperatures enhance vector breeding, to prevent local transmission of vector-borne diseases such as Zika virus infection and dengue fever, the public is urged to clean and remove vector breeding sites.