In the evening of May 21, 2009, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) confirmed the second imported case of influenza A (H1N1) in a Taiwan-born 22-year-old female who studies abroad in the United States.The case took flight CX831 from the United States on May 19, 2009 and arrived at Hong Kong in the evening of May 20, 2009.In the evening of May 20 2009, she took flight CX468 and arrived at the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport at night.Upon arrival, she was detected with a body temperature of 38.6℃ by the fever screening station in the airport.After being examined by the quarantine physician and given the proper protection, the case was sent to the Tao Yuan General Hospital for specimen collection and isolation treatment.Currently, the case is in good health condition and staying at the negative pressure isolation room.

The case indicated no student at her school had experienced influenza-like symptoms and her roommate was in good health condition.After boarding the plane in New York, she wore a mask throughout the flight. Not long after takeoff, she began to develop cough.She stopped briefly in Hong Kong to catch her connecting flight.After boarding her connecting flight, she began to experience fever and she wore a mask throughout the flight again.Therefore, the passengers sitting in the same row and in the 3 rows in front and behind the case and the crew members on flight CX831 (departed from New York at 15:09 on May 19, 2009 and arrived at Hong Kong at 18:57 on May 20, 2009; the case’s plane seat: 61C) and CX468 (departed from Hong Kong at 19:55 on May 20, 2009 and arrived at Taiwan at 21:16 on the same day; the case’s plane seat: 37A) will be followed up. At the time of writing, CECC has obtained the list of close contacts and crew members on both flights for epidemiological investigation and follow-up.

CECC urged passengers on board those two aforementioned flights, especially those sitting in the same row and in the three rows in front and behind the case to voluntarily report themselves to the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) through the Communicable Disease Reporting and Consultation Hotline, 1922, observe their own health, conduct home quarantine, and measure their body temperature twice a day for a period of seven days.After contacting Taiwan CDC, public health personnel will visit them to conduct preliminary investigation, collect specimen and administer antiviral prophylaxis.In addition, CECC stated that people in Taiwan should not panic because the case and all the close contacts have been traced.On the other hand, the passengers on board the same flights with the case should not be overly panicked and are urged to conduct self-health management for seven days or call 1922 for consultation.If any of the close contacts develop influenza-like symptoms such as fever and cough during the next 2-7 days, please be sure to contact the local health unit first and refrain from seeking medical attention on his/her own.

The public should not panic because all current cases of influenza A (H1N1) in Taiwan are imported and no community spread of the virus has occurred.CECC once again urges travelers to observe their own health before returning to Taiwan in order to lower the risk of community transmission of the virus in Taiwan.The Ministry of Education has recently published the “Guidelines for prevention and control of influenza A (H1N1) among students who study abroad and return to Taiwan during the summer vacation”.