The eleventh meeting held by the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) was convened on June 9, 2009.At the meeting, the “National guidelines for study abroad and study-tour abroad programs during phase 4 of influenza A (H1N1) pandemic alert” were passed to provide references for students on study abroad and study-tour abroad programs and units organizing exchange programs to follow. Further, the “Guidelines for prevention and control of influenza A (H1N1) among students who study abroad and return to Taiwan during the summer vacation” published by the Ministry of Education on May 22, 2009 were revoked.

According to the latest epidemic surveillance data compiled by the World Health Organization (WHO), 73 countries around the world have reported a total of 25,288 confirmed cases of influenza A (H1N1) infection.Nevertheless, outbreaks in a number of countries have been subsiding and most cases are mild.Further, the rate of death from the illness is not as high as expected.As a result, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control have formulated he “National guidelines for study abroad and study-tour abroad programs during phase 4 of influenza A (H1N1) pandemic alert” to be implemented during 4 stages: prior to departure, during flight, during period spent abroad, and after returning to Taiwan as a response to the current development of the outbreak.

On the other hand, besides following the WHO’s recommendations of requesting persons with symptoms to delay their trips and seek medical attention according to relevant disease control measures, the Ministry of Education also announced that the organization of study abroad and study-tour abroad programs would be resumed. As most confirmed cases in Taiwan are imported cases, CECC urges people residing overseas to observe their own health prior to returning to Taiwan in order to minimize the risk of influenza A (H1N1) transmission in Taiwan.