The World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) emergency committee decided to raise the influenza pandemic alert level after its meeting on April 27, 2009 in Geneva.Following the WHO’s Emergency Committee’s advice, the WHO Director-General immediately announced raising the level of influenza pandemic alert to phase 4.Simultaneously, Taiwan established the Central Epidemic Command Center as planned in response to the current confirmed human outbreaks of influenza A (H1N1) overseas.On April 28, 2009, the Central Epidemic Command Center held its first meeting hosted by the Minister of Health, Ching-Chuan Yeh, and the participating agencies included the Department of Health, the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Economic Affairs, etc.

Since no human case of swine influenza has occurred in Taiwan, the Department of Health pointed out that the current focus in Taiwan’s prevention efforts is to stop the importation of the disease.Control measures against importation of the disease include increasing the level of travel warning and enhancing the existing practices of border quarantine. Travelers are advised to avoid areas affected by the outbreak.Nevertheless, influenza spreads rapidly.Therefore, human cases of swine influenza can occur in Taiwan at any time.To prepare for the worst possible scenario, Taiwan has decided to proceed with the preparation work outlined in “Strategic Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Plan” in order to coordinate cross-sectoral efforts and supply management of medical resources, which were discussed in the first meeting held by the Central Epidemic Command Center.

As of April 28 2009, Mexico has reported almost 3000 human cases of influenza A(H1N1), including 149 deaths. The United States has reported 40 laboratory confirmed human cases of infection with the same virus that had mild Influenza-Like Illness with only one requiring brief hospitalization, in 5 states. Canada has reported six laboratory confirmed human cases. Spain has reported one case, while the United Kingdom has reported two cases.