As summer is fast approaching, the threat of vector-borne infectious diseases is growing. On May 12, 2016, the Command Center for Zika Virus convened the 30^th coordination meeting. The meeting participants included representatives from other ministries.　The meeting decided to reinforce the cleaning and removal of vector breeding sites at harbors and ports and on vessels and provide 26 hospital laboratories in the nation with the laboratory testing techniques for Zika virus in order to strengthen the nation’s laboratory capacity for Zika virus.

The meeting was presided over by Commander Kuo Hsu-sung (郭旭崧).　Other participating ministries include the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of the Interior and Academia Sinica. The meeting participants reviewed the latest update on the international outbreak situation and the ongoing Zika preparedness and response efforts implemented in Taiwan. The current Zika preparedness and response efforts in Taiwan focus on offshore and border control, including mosquito control for aircrafts and vessels.

Although the chance of importing mosquitoes is rather low, vessels might still carry potential vector breeding sites such as old tired and potted plants. Hence, Taiwan CDC will reinforce sanitation control of vessels at international harbors and ports and urges vessel companies to reinforce mosquito control for vessels and the harbor and port areas.　　In addition, local governments have also been notified to reinforce the cleaning and removal of vector breeding sites.

To bolster the nation’s laboratory capacity for Zika virus, Taiwan CDC is in the process of organizing two training sessions on molecular diagnosis for Zika for laboratory personnel from 20 medical centers and 6 regional hospitals in the nation to attend. The training session aims to assist each laboratory in obtaining the standard operating procedures and the materials for laboratory diagnosis of Zika and ensure the nation’s laboratory capacity for Zika virus.　

Based on the latest updates on recent local transmission of Zika viru in Grenada, Taiwan CDC scaled up the travel notice level for the country to Level 2: Alert for Zika virus.　　Thus far, at least 58 countries, areas and/or territories worldwide, primarily in Latin America, the Caribbean region and Asia (Maldives and Thailand), have reported local outbreaks of Zika virus infection. Taiwan CDC has issued a travel notice of Level 2: Alert for Zika virus for 52 countries and territories. Although sporadic cases have been reported in 6 countries, including Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Laos, Bangladesh, and Gabon in Africa, no direct evidence has shown local transmission has occurred in any of the 6 countries. Pregnant women are advised to postpone their trips to areas where Zika virus is active, travelers are advised to avoid mosquito bites, and people returning from Zika-affected areas are advised to use condoms when having sex for at least 28 days to prevent Zika transmission.