On July 17, 2009, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) announced the first severe case of pandemic influenza A (H1N1) in Taiwan.After Hong Kong reported the first death of pandemic influenza A (H1N1), the first severe case of pandemic influenza A (H1N1) has recently been confirmed in Taiwan.The Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) stated that although the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a global pandemic of moderate severity on June 11, 2009, countries around the world have been actively preparing for the second wave of pandemic in this fall and winter.More importantly, severe cases and deaths of pandemic influenza A (H1N1) have been reported in a number of countries around the world.Hence, Taiwan CDC remains vigilant.

According to the epidemiological data collected by Taiwan CDC, the first severe case of pandemic influenza A (H1N1) is a 34-year-old male who developed symptoms such as fever, cough and sore throat on July 2, 2009 and sought medical attention at a hospital on July 9, 2009 when he developed shortness of breath. Currently, the case is being treated in the intensive care unit (ICU). On July 17, 2009, pandemic influenza A (H1N1) was confirmed in the case.Further, the case was diagnosed with a severe case of pandemic influenza A (H1N1).On the other hand, pandemic influenza A (H1N1) was also confirmed in two close contacts of the case.Nevertheless, the two close contacts had only developed mild symptoms that have subsided, and their health status is being continuously monitored.

Taiwan CDC pointed out that since the case has no underlying chronic heart or lung disease, the cause of the illness is still under investigation. In addition, whether the case became infected with pandemic influenza A (H1N1) due to the medication the case was taking or the case’s health requires further confirmation.At the moment, the patient’s specimen is being cultured, which will be subsequently sequenced to determine if the virus had a mutation. Since the case had no history of travel, his physician did not suspect pandemic influenza A (H1N1) infection and report the case at once.Therefore, CECC stressed that pandemic influenza A (H1N1) virus has made up about 80% of the influenza strains currently circulating in the community and clinical physicians should taken pandemic influenza A (H1N1) infection into consideration when diagnosing a patient regardless of whether the patient has history of travel in order to administer prompt treatment and avoid severe complications and death. Simultaneously, CECC is working on revising the diagnosis and treatment guidance for clinicians.

As of noon on July 17, 2009, a total of 93 cases of pandemic influenza A (H1N1) infection were reported in Taiwan.According to the results of the community virus surveillance, pandemic influenza A (H1N1) virus makes up about 88% of the influenza strains currently circulating in the community. According to computer simulation results, it is speculated the number of influenza A(H1N1) cases has exceeded 1000.At least 120 thousands cases of pandemic influenza A (H1N1) infection have been reported in a total of 135 countries/regions around the world.About 700 deaths have been reported in 26 countries/regions.