The Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) has obtained the list of 122 people who have come into contact with the fourth imported case of H7N9 influenza who was confirmed on April 25, 2014. The list of contacts includes his wife and 2 daughters, passengers on the same flight, one colleague who picked him up from the airport and healthcare workers at the clinic and the hospitals where the case has sought medical attention. All of the contacts have been investigated and followed up. Thus far, 3 of the contacts have developed symptoms, but H7N9 infection has been ruled out in them according to their negative laboratory test results. In addition, a total of 25 close contacts were provided with post-exposure prophylaxis after the clinician’s assessment. All the close contacts will be followed up by the public health authority for 10 consecutive days.
On April 29, 2014, officials from the China Health and Family Planning Commission confirmed three new H7N9 influenza infections in Jiangsu Province, Jiangxi Province and Anhui Province during April 23 and April 28, 2014. The new case in Jiangxi Province is the first case in Jiangxi Province since October 1, 2013. Taiwan CDC has issued a travel notice of Level 2: Alert for avian influenza to Hunan Province, Anhui Province, Jiangsu Province, Guangdong Province, Fujian Province and Jiangxi Province, and a travel notice of Level 1: Watch for avian influenza to the other provinces and cities in China, excluding Hong Kong and Macau. Travelers visiting China are urged to practice good personal hygiene and avoid contact with poultry and birds. In addition, physicians are advised to pay attention to patients with pneumonia and inquire about such patients’ travel history.
According to WHO, since October 1, 2013, a cumulative total of 297 H7N9 influenza infections have been confirmed around the world. All of the cases are either Chinese nationals or imported from China. On April 23, 2014, WHO also announced that a total of 432 H7N9 influenza infections have been confirmed around the world since March 2013, including 146 deaths. Since “H7N9 influenza” was listed as a Category V Notifiable Infectious Disease in Taiwan on April 3, 2013, thus far, a cumulative total of 588 suspected H7N9 cases have been reported to Taiwan CDC and infection with avian influenza A (H7N9) has been confirmed in 4 imported cases (from Mainland China).
Taiwan CDC once again reminds travelers visiting China to take preventive measures such as avoiding direct contact with poultry and birds or their droppings, consuming only thoroughly cooked poultry and eggs and practice good personal hygiene such as washing hands frequently to prevent infection. If symptoms such as fever or influenza-like symptoms develop upon returning to Taiwan, please voluntarily notify the airline crew members and the quarantine officer at the quarantine station in the airport. If the aforementioned symptoms develop after returning to Taiwan, please put on a surgical mask and seek immediate medical attention. Moreover, please inform the physician of the recent exposure and travel history to facilitate diagnosis and treatment. For more information, please visit the Taiwan CDC’s website at http://www.cdc.gov.tw or call the toll-free Communicable Disease Reporting and Care Hotline, 1922 (or 0800-001922).