On July 25, 2009, around 400 over foreign and domestic medical students gathered to attend the 30th Asian Medical Students’ Conference, which will last 8 days.On July 26, 2009, a number of participating students began to develop influenza-like symptoms.At noon of July 27, 2009, the organizer of the conference contacted the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) through the Communicable Disease Reporting and Consultation Hotline, 1922, for assistance in dealing with the students displaying influenza-like symptoms. On the same night, seven students were assisted to receive medical attention by the organizer.After specimen collection, pandemic influenza A (H1N1) infection was confirmed in 6 of the students.Immediately, the Department of Health of Taipei City Government conducted an epidemiological inspection, collected specimen for further examination and conducted health education.Since the organizer of the conference contacted the public health unit promptly when the participating students started to show influenza-like symptoms, so far, only 15 people were found to have developed such symptoms and the disease has not been spread further.Hence, the conference is still being held as planned.

The Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) urged organizing committees planning mass gathering events during the summer to pay attention to disease prevention while organizing events. CECC used the incident occurred at the 30th Asian Medical Students’ Conference as an example to illustrate how a pandemic influenza A (H1N1) outbreak can be successfully controlled if it is detected early.

CECC advised organizing committees planning mass gathering events to follow the recommended guidelines below to prevent pandemic influenza A (H1N1) transmission as pandemic influenza A (H1N1) has resulted in a global pandemic:
1. The organizer should voluntarily screen and inquire each arriving participant if he/she has experienced influenza-like symptoms.If he/she has experienced influenza-like symptoms, the organizer should ask the person to conduct self-health management and request the person to stay isolated or away from the event until seven days after the symptom onset or 24 hours after the symptoms have subsided.
2. The organizer should attempt to detect any person with influenza-like symptoms early and isolate the person immediately.
3. The organizer should encourage all participants and staff to pay attention to cough etiquette and frequent hand-washing.
4. The organizer should stay in contact and work with the local public health unit in order to respond appropriately when an outbreak occurs.